preposterous

adjective

pre·​pos·​ter·​ous pri-ˈpä-st(ə-)rəs How to pronounce preposterous (audio)
: contrary to nature, reason, or common sense : absurd
preposterously adverb
preposterousness noun

Examples of preposterous in a Sentence

The whole idea is preposterous! the idea that extraterrestrials built the pyramids is preposterous
Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Plot Armor Carol’s trip to France is equally preposterous. Erik Kain, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 Scarcity led to preposterous prices: tomatoes cost ninety-six dollars a pound. Dorothy Wickenden, The New Yorker, 28 Oct. 2024 There are some truly wonderful laugh-out-loud moments to be had throughout, though the fact that, much like the German filmmaker’s previous movie, this preposterous bit of Popesploitation is somehow being positioned as Oscar material may be the funniest part of it all. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 25 Oct. 2024 If the average rent in Manhattan exceeds $4,000, renters could be paying over $7,000 just for viewing a property—this, to me, feels utterly preposterous. Rodolfo Delgado, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for preposterous 

Word History

Etymology

Latin praeposterus, literally, in the wrong order, from prae- + posterus hinder, following — more at posterior

First Known Use

1533, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of preposterous was in 1533

Dictionary Entries Near preposterous

Cite this Entry

“Preposterous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/preposterous. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

preposterous

adjective
pre·​pos·​ter·​ous pri-ˈpäs-t(ə-)rəs How to pronounce preposterous (audio)
: making little or no sense : absurd
preposterously adverb
preposterousness noun
Etymology

from Latin praeposterus, literally, "having the rear part in front," from prae- "in front, before" and posterus "coming behind, following"

Word Origin
The familiar expression "putting the cart before the horse" comes very close to the literal sense of the word preposterous. The Romans formed their Latin adjective praeposterus from prae-, meaning "before," and posterus, meaning "following." They at first used it to mean "having that first which ought to be last," like having a cart ahead of the horse that is pulling it. Praeposterus was used to describe something that was out of the normal or logical order or position. From this developed the more general sense of "ridiculous, absurd." These meanings were borrowed into English in the 16th century. Although preposterous is seldom used in its literal sense nowadays, we still use it to describe something that seems so unreasonable as to be ridiculous.

More from Merriam-Webster on preposterous

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