absurdity

noun

ab·​sur·​di·​ty əb-ˈsər-də-tē  -ˈzər- 

plural absurdities

1

: the quality or state of being absurd : absurdness

They laughed at the absurdity of the situation.

2

: something that is absurd

the absurdities of life

Synonyms

• asininity
• bêtise
• fatuity
• folly
• foolery
• foppery
• idiocy
• imbecility
• inanity
• insanity
• lunacy
• stupidity

Examples of absurdity in a Sentence

to say men can't cook as well as women is of course an absurdity

the absurdity of expecting a 98-year-old woman to adequately supervise four six-year-olds

Recent Examples on the Web

As Doc, Fishburne leavens his inimitable gravity with wry incredulity, while O’Neill revels in the absurdity of the bloviating, narcissistic Donald Sterling. —Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 3 June 2024

In the hilarious video, which has been viewed at least three million times, the couple breaks character several times laughing at the absurdity of the situation. —Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 29 May 2024

For 30 years, Nick Swardson has pushed his level of absurdity to epic heights on stage — maybe a little too high sometimes (especially during a recent set in Colorado when an edible left him unable to finish his set). —Nate Jackson, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2024

Piling onto the absurdity of the rationale accompanying Pepsi’s 2008 logo is the redesign’s $1 million price tag. —Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 19 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English absurditee "dissonance, unjust practice," borrowed from Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French absurdité, borrowed from Late Latin absurditāt-, absurditās, from Latin absurdus absurd entry 1 + -itāt-, -itās -ity

First Known Use

circa 1525, in the meaning defined at sense 2