Kafkaesqueadjective
/ˌkæf.kəˈesk//ˌkɑːf.kəˈesk/extremely unpleasant, frightening, and confusing, and similar to situations described in the novels of Franz Kafka:
He is caught up in a Kafkaesque bureaucratic nightmare.
The urban landscape is invested with a nightmarish, Kafkaesque bleakness.
More examples
- You are in a Kafkaesque situation in which they say, "We believe you are a threat, but we won't tell you why you are a threat."
- "Handcuffs" is a Kafkaesque parable about paranoia and power.
- The new plan for letting disabled students take the required high school exit exam is cruel and Kafkaesque.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Serious and unpleasant
- abominable
- abysmal
- apocalyptic
- appalling
- awfully
- belief
- corrosive
- grim
- grisly
- grotesque
- gruesome
- hate
- noxious
- revolting
- rotten
- shitty
- shocking
- shockingly
- stinking
- wretched
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Difficult situations and unpleasant experiences
Confusion, confusing and feeling confused