preposterous
adjective
pre·pos·ter·ous pri-ˈpä-st(ə-)rəs 
: contrary to nature, reason, or common sense : absurd
preposterously adverb
preposterousness noun
Synonyms
- absurd
- bizarre
- crazy
- fanciful
- fantastic
- fantastical
- foolish
- insane
- nonsensical
- unreal
- wild
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The whole idea is preposterous! the idea that extraterrestrials built the pyramids is preposterous
Recent Examples on the Web The idea of the Krafts firing Belichick if this season goes south, like the team before its season opener in Miami, is preposterous. 
Christopher L. Gasper, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 And the Biden administration’s approach to inflation has, so far, been nothing short of preposterous. The Editors, National Review, 18 May 2022 The very idea seemed preposterous, especially economically. David Browne, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2022 The belief that a handful of people in Washington can constructively drive the activities of millions of people making billions of buy-and-sell decisions each day is beyond preposterous. Steve Forbes, Forbes, 17 May 2022 The idea that Dunn would attack him or Tolliver appeared to strike Wilson as preposterous. Chris Pomorski, The New Republic, 23 June 2022 Indeed, Jake and Kelly’s meddling ways continually find them in preposterous sitcom-like set-ups. Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 17 June 2022 Or will Madison—like literally every other character—simply get dragged down by the awful scripts, preposterous scenarios and terrible overall production? Erik Kain, Forbes, 8 June 2022 As for the Ukraine bill distracting us from dealing with other problems, this is a preposterous argument. The Editors, National Review, 19 May 2022 See More
Christopher L. Gasper, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Sep. 2022 And the Biden administration’s approach to inflation has, so far, been nothing short of preposterous. The Editors, National Review, 18 May 2022 The very idea seemed preposterous, especially economically. David Browne, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2022 The belief that a handful of people in Washington can constructively drive the activities of millions of people making billions of buy-and-sell decisions each day is beyond preposterous. Steve Forbes, Forbes, 17 May 2022 The idea that Dunn would attack him or Tolliver appeared to strike Wilson as preposterous. Chris Pomorski, The New Republic, 23 June 2022 Indeed, Jake and Kelly’s meddling ways continually find them in preposterous sitcom-like set-ups. Manuel Betancourt, Variety, 17 June 2022 Or will Madison—like literally every other character—simply get dragged down by the awful scripts, preposterous scenarios and terrible overall production? Erik Kain, Forbes, 8 June 2022 As for the Ukraine bill distracting us from dealing with other problems, this is a preposterous argument. The Editors, National Review, 19 May 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
preposterous
adjective
pre·pos·ter·ous pri-ˈpä-stə-rəs
: making little or no sense : foolish
a preposterous excuse
preposterous
adjective
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
- absurd
- bizarre
- foolish
- unreal
- insane
- ridiculous
- fanciful
- crazy
- nonsensical
- strange
- fantastical
- fantastic
- implausible
- grotesque
- incredible
- wild
- inconceivable
- curious
- unbelievable
- ludicrous
- odd
- funny
- peculiar
- weird
- outlandish
- unthinkable
- laughable
- unimaginable
- off the wall
- extravagant
- farcical
- eccentric
- outré
- surreal
- wacky
- quaint
- quirky
- kooky
- bizarro
- screwy
- whacky
- nightmarish
- kinky
- queer
- dreamlike
- far-out
- way-out
- kookie
- queerish
- Alice-in-Wonderland
- out-of-the-way
- Kafkaesque
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- reasonable
- realistic
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
- absurd
- silly
- foolish
- stupid
- crazy
- insane
- mad
- idiotic
- ridiculous
- irrational
- asinine
- lunatic
- fatuous
- nonsensical
- simple
- zany
- daft
- harebrained
- fool
- unreasonable
- dumb
- unwise
- wacky
- loony
- screwball
- nutty
- daffy
- kooky
- crackpot
- simpleminded
- senseless
- witless
- brainless
- dippy
- weak
- looney
- inept
- cockeyed
- idiotical
- dotty
- ludicrous
- sappy
- whacky
- cuckoo
- illogical
- moronic
- jerky
- half-baked
- slow
- unreasoning
- tomfool
- bubbleheaded
- laughable
- lunkheaded
- half-witted
- kookie
- balmy
- farcical
- fallacious
- vacuous
- thoughtless
- obtuse
- featherheaded
- lamebrain
- doltish
- imbecile
- weak-minded
- dopey
- dense
- clueless
- unintelligent
- dunderheaded
- unreasoned
- out to lunch
- invalid
- dull
- pinheaded
- feebleminded
- mindless
- unsound
- dim
- opaque
- softheaded
- surd
- imbecilic
- dorky
- thickheaded
- airheaded
- thick
- gormless
- oafish
- lamebrained
- nonrational
- soft
- clownish
- dim-witted
- notional
- birdbrained
- knuckleheaded
- chuckleheaded
- empty-headed
- dopy
- buffoonish
- brain-dead
- chowderheaded
- slow-witted
- boobish
- unconsidered
- ill-advised
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sensible
- sound
- wise
- prudent
- reasonable
- sagacious
- sane
- clever
- judicious
- logical
- intelligent
- rational
- valid
- smart
- bright
- sage
- sapient
- brainy
- well-advised
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
- ridiculous
- absurd
- silly
- pathetic
- ludicrous
- foolish
- comical
- stupid
- unreasonable
- laughable
- farcical
- irrational
- risible
- incredible
- dumb
- derisive
- insane
- cockamamie
- derisory
- cockamamy
- crazy
- fantastical
- idiotic
- asinine
- fantastic
- inane
- fatuous
- nonsensical
- moronic
- mad
- harebrained
- inconceivable
- imbecile
- unbelievable
- unwise
- unreal
- daft
- illogical
- unrealistic
- lunatic
- simpleminded
- screwball
- witless
- for the birds
- brainless
- loony
- nutty
- wacky
- imbecilic
- daffy
- kooky
- jerky
- dotty
- far-fetched
- half-baked
- whacky
- senseless
- cuckoo
- cockeyed
- idiotical
- half-witted
- looney
- kookie
- weak-minded
- balmy
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- serious
- conceivable
- earnest
- reasonable
- logical
- solemn
- realistic
- credible
- sensible
- rational
- believable