adjective
Uncommon
preposterous
prih-POS-tuh-ruhs
Preposterous (adjective) means Utterly absurd or unreasonable; going against common sense. Example: “It's preposterous to think we could finish the project in a single day.”
adjective
1
Utterly absurd or unreasonable; going against common sense.
"It's preposterous to think we could finish the project in a single day."
"The claim that the earth is flat is simply preposterous."
How to use preposterous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSo ridiculous or unreasonable that it's hard to take seriously.
Common pairings
a preposterous claim
utterly preposterous
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more preposterous
- Superlative
- most preposterous
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It's _____ to think we could finish the project in a single day.
Etymology
From Latin praeposterus, literally "with the back part before" — combining prae- ("before") and posterus ("coming after"), describing something back-to-front or upside down.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for preposterous
See all rhymes for preposterous →Frequently asked questions
What does “preposterous” mean?
The word “preposterous” means utterly absurd or unreasonable; going against common sense. In plain terms, so ridiculous or unreasonable that it's hard to take seriously.
How do you pronounce “preposterous”?
“Preposterous” is pronounced prih-POS-tuh-ruhs (/pɹəˈpɑstəɹəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “preposterous” in a sentence?
Here is “preposterous” used in a sentence: “It's preposterous to think we could finish the project in a single day.”
What part of speech is “preposterous”?
“Preposterous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “preposterous” come from?
The word “preposterous” comes from Latin. From Latin praeposterus, literally "with the back part before" — combining prae- ("before") and posterus ("coming after"), describing something back-to-front or upside down.
Is “preposterous” a common word?
“Preposterous” is an uncommon word in modern English.
