1
as in absurd
conceived or made without regard for reason or reality
the idea that extraterrestrials built the pyramids is preposterous
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2
as in silly
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
a preposterous suggestion to go swimming in this freezing weather
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3
as in ridiculous
so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter
the movie thriller had such a preposterous plot that we were on the edge of our seats snickering
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of preposterous
The Republicans insinuated that EcoHealth played a role in inventing the COVID virus, which is utterly preposterous.
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Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
Daryl Dixon: The Book Of Carol amped up every preposterous element of the first season and double down on lazy writing.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 25 Dec. 2024
But the foundation here is shaky: A wildly erratic tone and an overload of preposterous cliffhangers end up spoiling all the fun, leaving us with a bad case of buyer’s remorse.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 12 Dec. 2024
Surely, such a preposterous query couldn’t have been levied this season?
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for preposterous 
Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 10 Dec. 2024
Daryl Dixon: The Book Of Carol amped up every preposterous element of the first season and double down on lazy writing.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 25 Dec. 2024
But the foundation here is shaky: A wildly erratic tone and an overload of preposterous cliffhangers end up spoiling all the fun, leaving us with a bad case of buyer’s remorse.
—Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 12 Dec. 2024
Surely, such a preposterous query couldn’t have been levied this season?
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 7 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for preposterous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preposterous
Adjective
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Lies, no matter how absurd, gain traction the more they're repeated.Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 16 Jan. 2025
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In yet another absurd Elon Musk news story, it's been revealed that people are betting on how many times the owner of X will post on his platform in a week.Jibin Joseph, PCMAG, 15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The Couple Next Door The Bottom Line PG-13 partner-swapping upstaged by silly thriller subplots.Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Jan. 2025
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Elon Musk is surrounded by almost constant controversy, but the latest scandal to rock the world’s richest man is surely the silliest—Musk is being accused of pretending to be good at video games.Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Abusing someone’s wife because their husband hasn’t scored a goal in a specific game is ridiculous.Art de Roché, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
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Amusingly, Musk’s character held two shields, a ridiculous burden that offers no tactical advantage whatsoever—this is the kind of game where a slightly heavier helmet can make a serious difference.Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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By Judy Berman January 17, 2025 6:00 AM EST The spectacular finale of Severance’s first season introduced a love triangle more bizarre than New Order could ever have imagined.Judy Berman, TIME, 17 Jan. 2025
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Duran Duran has paid tribute to the late American filmmaker David Lynch, whose brilliant and bizarre films laid the inspirational groundwork for a young Nick Rhodes.Lars Brandle, Billboard, 17 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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If the young shortstop is truly as good as gone, the Blue Jays would be foolish not to trade him.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 8 Jan. 2025
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While admirable, the plan to resettle the poor was foolish in retrospect as the Low Country soil is sandy and the weather too hot for farming.Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 27 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In the final, pathetic weeks of his failed presidency, Joe Biden has been casting about desperately for a positive legacy.Jack Butler, National Review, 12 Jan. 2025
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The 10th pick will be your usual pathetic Bear player.Jon Greenberg, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Rhodes received an unreal reaction when he was shown on the big screen.Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025
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Bob had an unreal game, and then to see that goal, whatever.Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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So ridiculous the referee initially had trouble believing that anyone could be so reckless & stupid.The Athletic UK Staff, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
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And there was no such thing ever as a bad decision or a stupid question.Harrison Richlin, IndieWire, 4 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near preposterous
Cite this Entry
“Preposterous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preposterous. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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