1
as in absurd
conceived or made without regard for reason or reality
the idea that extraterrestrials built the pyramids is preposterous
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of preposterous
The cost of doing so is preposterous — more than the government spends on the Department of the Interior, the FBI, or NASA.
—
Sally C. Pipes, Boston Herald, 24 Oct. 2025
Those numbers — down from his recent claim of 100,000 — are preposterous.
—The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 21 Oct. 2025
The Brewers benefited from a preposterous double play in the fourth inning, when outfielder Sal Frelick bobbled a ball off the center-field wall, but managed to start a relay for a forceout at home and another at third.
—Andy McCullough, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2025
Ridiculous on the face of it, preposterous even — yet somehow also kind of plausible.
—Nikki Sternberg, HollywoodReporter, 20 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for preposterous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for preposterous
Adjective
-
After the first Roundtable, Survivor stalwart Rob Cesternino — perhaps clued in by Candiace’s absurd conga line ploy to get people out of the kitchen — sniffed out that a murder in plain sight could be happening.—
-
Contrary to what many may think, the researchers found no correlation between a person’s level of education and their capacity to believe in absurd conspiracies.—
Adjective
-
To say the road to the Super Bowl goes through Jacksonville sounds silly in the NFL’s grand scheme, but for a talented and decorated Bills group that never has won there, that’s the first stop on the quest.—
-
Citing the Monroe Doctrine is silly.—
Adjective
-
So the firings of Cleveland Browns head coach Kevin Stefanski and the Ravens’ Harbaugh have injected some juice into a Giants search that previously threatened to cast as wide and arbitrary a net as last year’s ridiculous Jets process.—
-
The Olympics is a ridiculous mixture of hit-you-straight-in-the-feels origin stories and Greek god-level athletic prowess.—
Adjective
-
His work is marked by unusual, even bizarre, material choices that encrust spatial compositions reminiscent of Frank Lloyd Wright’s innovative open space plans.—
-
Some unnamed Chicago bartender in the early 1880s had the improbable idea of taking a Whiskey Sour and adding a little red wine to the top, inventing in a bizarre flash of insightone of the great warm weather whiskey drinks of our time.—
Adjective
-
To do a lot less foolish, thoughtless, stupid, idiotic things.—
-
No one should be defending activists who engage in the most foolish and dangerous actions!—
Adjective
-
Add the pathetic reality that Illinois is the very definition of unfriendliness for business development and job creation, and the only thing Pritzker and his accomplices can campaign on is the vilification of Trump, facts be damned.—
-
There are solutions to Joe Biden’s failing and pathetic attempts to raise money to build a presidential library.—
Adjective
-
Finally standing in front of each other, sharing our vows with our closest family and friends, felt unreal.—
-
The final form of the Mind Flayer, that crazy big Lovecraftian thing, looks unreal.—
Adjective
-
In tribute to Michael Keane’s hair-pulling on Wednesday, Cerys Jones picked through the stupidest dismissals in Premier League history.—
-
To do a lot less foolish, thoughtless, stupid, idiotic things.—
Cite this Entry
“Preposterous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/preposterous. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share