absurd
Defying all reason
Absurd describes something so unreasonable or illogical that it defies serious consideration: The idea that the earth is flat is absurd.
The word often carries a note of ridicule—absurd claims invite laughter or dismissal.
In philosophy, the absurd refers to the conflict between humans seeking meaning and a universe that offers none.
As a noun, the theater of the absurd presents existence as fundamentally meaningless.
Absurdly unreasonable or inappropriate
- preposterousCompletely contrary to reason
- laughableWorthy of derision
- farcicalAbsurdly comical or mockable
- risibleProvoking scornful mirth
comical · outlandish · bizarre · grotesque · silly · foolish · harebrained · cockamamie
Seemingly absurd truth
- contradictionOpposing claims, incompatible together
- fallacyError in reasoning
- nonsensicalWithout coherent meaning
- incoherentLacking logical connection
unreasonable · invalid · flawed · unsound · specious · self-defeating · circular · non sequitur
French absurdist author-philosopher
- SartreFrench existentialist philosopher
- IonescoAbsurdist dramatist from Romania
- KafkaCzech-Jewish literary surname
- meaninglessnessLack of significance
Beckett · futility · existentialism · nihilism · void · alienation · Sisyphus · Godot
Absurd, laughable situation
- parodySatirical imitation
- satireMockery exposing vice
- slapstickExaggerated physical humor
- buffooneryLudicrous or silly conduct
clowning · spoof · caricature · mockery · lampoon · burlesque · travesty · send-up
Unintelligible speech or writing
- balderdashSenseless talk or writing
- hogwashFoolish or untrue talk
- poppycockFoolish or meaningless talk
- malarkeyInsincere foolish talk
codswallop · twaddle · claptrap · drivel · rubbish · bunk · tommyrot · flapdoodle
ludicrous
Absurdly unreasonable or inappropriate
- preposterousCompletely contrary to reason
- laughableWorthy of derision
- farcicalAbsurdly comical or mockable
risible · comical · outlandish · bizarre · grotesque · silly · foolish · harebrained · cockamamie · asinine
paradox
Seemingly absurd truth
- contradictionOpposing claims, incompatible together
- fallacyError in reasoning
- nonsensicalWithout coherent meaning
incoherent · unreasonable · invalid · flawed · unsound · specious · self-defeating · circular · non sequitur · incongruous
Camus
French absurdist author-philosopher
- SartreFrench existentialist philosopher
- IonescoAbsurdist dramatist from Romania
- KafkaCzech-Jewish literary surname
Beckett · meaninglessness · futility · existentialism · nihilism · void · alienation · Sisyphus · Godot · metamorphosis
farce
Absurd, laughable situation
buffoonery · clowning · spoof · caricature · mockery · lampoon · burlesque · travesty · send-up · jest
gibberish
Unintelligible speech or writing
- balderdashSenseless talk or writing
- hogwashFoolish or untrue talk
- poppycockFoolish or meaningless talk
malarkey · codswallop · twaddle · claptrap · drivel · rubbish · bunk · tommyrot · flapdoodle · gobbledygook
- funnyfunny, comical, hilarious, humorous, amusing
- nonsensenonsense, gibberish, gobbledegook, gobbledygook, ridiculous
- unreasonableirrational, illogical, senseless, ludicrous, preposterous
- irrationalityirrationality, unreason, illogic, madness, insanity
- unbelievableunbelievable, incredible, inconceivable, implausible, unthinkable
- exclamationsoh, yes, no, wow, hey
absurdlogical
Based on valid reasoning
rational · reasonable · coherent · sensible · valid
absurdsensible
Showing good judgment
reasonable · wise · prudent · judicious · practical
absurdcredible
Worthy of acceptance
plausible · believable · conceivable · realistic · reasonable
- absurdist humorComedy rooted in meaninglessness
- absurd humorComedy rooted in nonsense
- the absurdPhilosophical concept of purposelessness
- theater of the absurdExistentialist dramatic movement
- absurdist comedyComedy rooted in meaninglessness
- absurdist playTheater of purposeful incoherence
absurdity, absurdly, absurdist, absurdism, absurdities, absurdest, absurdists, absurdisms, absurdness