Absurd
adjective
Something that is very unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate.
To think that we can ignore this issue is totally absurd.
Often appears as...
- totally absurd
- completely absurd
adjective
Something hilarious or causing laughter because of being ridiculous.
The whole situation seemed so absurd that I started laughing.
Often appears as...
- seem absurd
- appear absurd
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
The concept in philosophy about the conflict between human tendency to seek inherent value and meaning in life and human inability to find any in a purposeless, meaningless or chaotic and irrational universe, often used in existentialism.
The absurd, in philosophy, is the conflict between the human desire for meaning and the silent, unfeeling universe.
Often appears as...
- absurd in philosophy
- existential absurd
Usage tips
Neutral
Academic
adjective
Something that is very unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate.
To think that we can ignore this issue is totally absurd.
Often appears as...
- totally absurd
- completely absurd
adjective
Something hilarious or causing laughter because of being ridiculous.
The whole situation seemed so absurd that I started laughing.
Often appears as...
- seem absurd
- appear absurd
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
The concept in philosophy about the conflict between human tendency to seek inherent value and meaning in life and human inability to find any in a purposeless, meaningless or chaotic and irrational universe, often used in existentialism.
The absurd, in philosophy, is the conflict between the human desire for meaning and the silent, unfeeling universe.
Often appears as...
- absurd in philosophy
- existential absurd
Usage tips
Neutral
Academic
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Exaggerated Unreason
Use 'absurd' to stress extreme lack of sense or logic in a situation.
Charging for sunlight would be absurd.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Emotion
Conveys frustration or disbelief at something nonsensical.
An absurd rule that bans talking in the cafeteria.
Pro Tip 3/3Critical Tone
Implies criticism or disapproval when describing actions or ideas.
Their plan to walk across the desert is absurd.
Pro Tip 1/3Exaggerated Unreason
Use 'absurd' to stress extreme lack of sense or logic in a situation.
Charging for sunlight would be absurd.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Emotion
Conveys frustration or disbelief at something nonsensical.
An absurd rule that bans talking in the cafeteria.
Pro Tip 3/3Critical Tone
Implies criticism or disapproval when describing actions or ideas.
Their plan to walk across the desert is absurd.
Pro Tip 1/3Exaggerated Unreason
Use 'absurd' to stress extreme lack of sense or logic in a situation.
Charging for sunlight would be absurd.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Emotion
Conveys frustration or disbelief at something nonsensical.
An absurd rule that bans talking in the cafeteria.
Pro Tip 3/3Critical Tone
Implies criticism or disapproval when describing actions or ideas.
Their plan to walk across the desert is absurd.
Compare with
asininefarcicalfoolishillogicalirrationalludicrousnonsensicalpreposterousridiculoussenseless
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Video examples
Which is stronger: Glue...
glues need enough real estate where surfaces touch. If for some reason you wanted to make a chain of bowling balls, duct tape would be better. Engineers weigh similar, if less absurd, factors all the time. Choosing the right glue to withstand the heat inside an engine is a matter of life and death.
Video examples
What is Zeno's Dichotomy...
should take an infinite amount of time. In other words, it says that all motion is impossible. This conclusion is clearly absurd, but where is the flaw in the logic? To resolve the paradox, it helps to turn the story into a math problem. Let's supposed that Zeno's house is one mile from the park
Video examples
Why does the universe...
there are nasty bits and nice bits and we could make the nice bits bigger and the nasty bits smaller and that gives us a kind of purpose in life. The universe is absurd, but we can still construct a purpose, and that's a pretty good one, and the overall mediocrity of reality
Video examples
A brief history of...
was widely shared and distributed in the form of a large prime number. The idea of illegal numbers may sound absurd, but like words, written numbers are a way of expressing concepts and information. And in a world where calculations and algorithms
Video examples
Is life meaningless? And...
that can only be described as meaningless and absurd. While the world never saw his cycle of love, his cycles of revolt and absurdity continue to resonate with readers today. His concept of absurdity has become a part of world literature,
Video examples
Budgie Talks To Owner To...
wild parakeets mimic each other and each family learns their own distinct calls never shake a baby bird that would surely be absurd this budgie is just doing what he would do in the floor even having a name may not be as unnatural as
Video examples
What is entropy? - Jeff...
is this tiny number. Familiar, everyday objects have many, many times more particles than this. The chance of a hot object in the real world getting hotter is so absurdly small, it just never happens. Ice melts, cream mixes in,
Video examples
What makes something...
according to rules we don't know. On the other hand, by fine-tuning our attention to the absurd, Kafka also reflects our shortcomings back at ourselves. In doing so, he reminds us that the world we live in is one we create,
Video examples
Thinking your way out of...
to my friend and said that was great and she look to you and said seriously Wow I mean you get out the house much or what right how arrogant how absurd would that sound what should she say in that situation yes thank you
Video examples
How a Woman's Donated...
freezer I wanted to make darn sure she understood and she would oftentimes ask for a blanket I said Susan that's absurd I'm not going to cut a blanket but she asked for roses I said I will do that
Video examples
Which is stronger: Glue...
glues need enough real estate where surfaces touch. If for some reason you wanted to make a chain of bowling balls, duct tape would be better. Engineers weigh similar, if less absurd, factors all the time. Choosing the right glue to withstand the heat inside an engine is a matter of life and death.
Video examples
What is Zeno's Dichotomy...
should take an infinite amount of time. In other words, it says that all motion is impossible. This conclusion is clearly absurd, but where is the flaw in the logic? To resolve the paradox, it helps to turn the story into a math problem. Let's supposed that Zeno's house is one mile from the park
Video examples
Why does the universe...
there are nasty bits and nice bits and we could make the nice bits bigger and the nasty bits smaller and that gives us a kind of purpose in life. The universe is absurd, but we can still construct a purpose, and that's a pretty good one, and the overall mediocrity of reality
Video examples
A brief history of...
was widely shared and distributed in the form of a large prime number. The idea of illegal numbers may sound absurd, but like words, written numbers are a way of expressing concepts and information. And in a world where calculations and algorithms
Video examples
Is life meaningless? And...
that can only be described as meaningless and absurd. While the world never saw his cycle of love, his cycles of revolt and absurdity continue to resonate with readers today. His concept of absurdity has become a part of world literature,
Video examples
Budgie Talks To Owner To...
wild parakeets mimic each other and each family learns their own distinct calls never shake a baby bird that would surely be absurd this budgie is just doing what he would do in the floor even having a name may not be as unnatural as
Video examples
What is entropy? - Jeff...
is this tiny number. Familiar, everyday objects have many, many times more particles than this. The chance of a hot object in the real world getting hotter is so absurdly small, it just never happens. Ice melts, cream mixes in,
Video examples
What makes something...
according to rules we don't know. On the other hand, by fine-tuning our attention to the absurd, Kafka also reflects our shortcomings back at ourselves. In doing so, he reminds us that the world we live in is one we create,
Video examples
Thinking your way out of...
to my friend and said that was great and she look to you and said seriously Wow I mean you get out the house much or what right how arrogant how absurd would that sound what should she say in that situation yes thank you
Video examples
How a Woman's Donated...
freezer I wanted to make darn sure she understood and she would oftentimes ask for a blanket I said Susan that's absurd I'm not going to cut a blanket but she asked for roses I said I will do that
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Pope John Paul II
Polish Saint
Humanity should question itself, once more, about the absurd and always unfair phenomenon of war, on whose stage of death and pain only remain standing the negotiating table that could and should have prevented it.
Quote examples
Jeremy Corbyn
British Politician
The idea that somehow or other you can deal with all the problems in the world by banning a particular religious group from entering the U.S.A. is offensive and absurd.
Quote examples
Harold Prince
American Producer
The truth is, for some absurd reason, no one is willing to admit that the interests of the producers and the theater owners are not the same.
Quote examples
Jeff Tweedy
American Musician
I think somehow you need to get to a certain point in your life where the notion of failure is absurd.
Quote examples
Tim Heidecker
American Actor
In the world of 'Tim and Eric,' everything is big and ridiculous and absurd.
Quote examples
Rose McGowan
American Actress
I love the absurd - kind of absurdist comedy, absurd things in life.
Quote examples
Ang Lee
Chinese Director
I think life without spirit is in the dark, it is absurd.
Quote examples
Peter Mullan
Scottish Actor
Life is much weirder than fiction; nothing's more absurd.
Quote examples
Albert Camus
French Philosopher
The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth.
Quote examples
David Baddiel
English Comedian
Fame is a silly thing that makes your life absurd.
Quote examples
Pope John Paul II
Polish Saint
Humanity should question itself, once more, about the absurd and always unfair phenomenon of war, on whose stage of death and pain only remain standing the negotiating table that could and should have prevented it.
Quote examples
Jeremy Corbyn
British Politician
The idea that somehow or other you can deal with all the problems in the world by banning a particular religious group from entering the U.S.A. is offensive and absurd.
Quote examples
Harold Prince
American Producer
The truth is, for some absurd reason, no one is willing to admit that the interests of the producers and the theater owners are not the same.
Quote examples
Jeff Tweedy
American Musician
I think somehow you need to get to a certain point in your life where the notion of failure is absurd.
Quote examples
Tim Heidecker
American Actor
In the world of 'Tim and Eric,' everything is big and ridiculous and absurd.
Quote examples
Rose McGowan
American Actress
I love the absurd - kind of absurdist comedy, absurd things in life.
Quote examples
Ang Lee
Chinese Director
I think life without spirit is in the dark, it is absurd.
Quote examples
Peter Mullan
Scottish Actor
Life is much weirder than fiction; nothing's more absurd.
Quote examples
Albert Camus
French Philosopher
The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth.
Quote examples
David Baddiel
English Comedian
Fame is a silly thing that makes your life absurd.
Example 1 of 10
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