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Preposterous - Meaning, Definition & English Examples

Preposterous means utterly absurd, illogical, or contrary to common sense. It describes something so ridiculous that it seems unbelievable or laughable, often used to emphasize extreme unreasonableness.

preposterous

/prɪˈpɑːstərəs/ /prɪˈpɒstərəs/

Definition:

Contrary to reason or common sense, absurd or ridiculous.

Synonyms:

absurd, ridiculous, ludicrous, nonsensical, outrageous

Part of Speech:

adjective

Antonyms:

sensible, reasonable, logical

Common Collocations:

preposterous idea, preposterous claim, preposterous behavior

Derivatives:

preposterously, preposterousness

Usage Tips:

Use "preposterous" to describe ideas or actions that are wildly unreasonable or illogical.

Common Phrases:

beyond preposterous, utterly preposterous, sound preposterous

Etymology:

From Latin *praeposterus* ("inverted, absurd"), combining *prae-* ("before") and *posterus* ("coming after").

Examples:

  • 1. The idea of cats flying is preposterous.
  • 2. His excuse for being late was utterly preposterous.
  • 3. She found the plot of the movie completely preposterous.
  • 4. It’s preposterous to think the sun orbits the Earth.

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