absurd

/əb'sə:d/

Thân thiện

The teacher found his excuse that the dog ate his homework completely absurd.

Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Completely unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate; so foolish as to be laughable: Describes something that is wildly inconsistent with reason, common sense, or accepted standards, often to the point of being ridiculous or laughable.
   • Characterized by or manifesting the philosophical concept of the Absurd: Relating to the conflict between the human tendency to seek inherent meaning in life and the silent, indifferent universe.

2. Noun (often "the absurd"):

   • A state or condition of being unreasonable or illogical.
   • In philosophy, the "Absurd": The conflict between the human search for meaning and the perceived meaninglessness of the universe.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:

  • His explanation for being late was completely absurd.
  • It is absurd to think you can learn a language in one day.
  • The movie's plot was so absurd that it was hilarious.

• Noun:

  • The play explores themes of the absurd in modern life.
  • Faced with the bureaucratic absurd of the situation, he could only laugh.

Advanced Usage

• Theater of the Absurd: A post-World War II genre of drama that presents a perspective that human existence is without meaning or purpose and that all communication breaks down. The plays often illustrate the philosophy of the absurd.

  • Samuel Beckett's "Waiting for Godot" is a classic example of the Theater of the Absurd.

• An absurdity (noun form): A thing that is absurd.

  • The new policy was full of absurdities.

Variants and Related Words

• Absurdity (n): The quality or state of being absurd; an absurd thing, statement, or action.
  • The absurdity of the claim was obvious to everyone.
• Absurdly (adv): In an absurd manner; to an absurd degree.
  • The prices were absurdly high.
• Absurdism (n): The philosophy that human beings exist in a purposeless, chaotic universe and that any search for order will bring them into direct conflict with this universe.
  • His writing was heavily influenced by absurdism.

Synonyms

• Ridiculous: Deserving or inviting mockery; absurd.
• Preposterous: Contrary to reason or common sense; utterly absurd.
• Ludicrous: So foolish, unreasonable, or out of place as to be amusing.
• Nonsensical: Having no meaning; making no sense.
• Farcical: Resembling a farce; absurd and ridiculous.

Antonyms

• Reasonable: Based on good sense; logical.
• Sensible: Chosen in accordance with wisdom or prudence; likely to be of benefit.
• Logical: Characterized by clear, sound reasoning.
• Rational: Based on or in accordance with reason or logic.

Idioms and Phrases

• Reductio ad absurdum: A method of proving the falsity of a premise by showing that its logical consequence is absurd or contradictory. (Latin for "reduction to absurdity").
  • He used reductio ad absurdum to dismantle his opponent's argument.
• The height of absurdity: The most extreme or ridiculous example of something.
  • Charging that much for a cup of water is the height of absurdity.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. incongruous; inviting ridicule
   • the absurd excuse that the dog ate his homework
   • that's a cockeyed idea
   • ask a nonsensical question and get a nonsensical answer
   • a contribution so small as to be laughable
   • it is ludicrous to call a cottage a mansion
   • a preposterous attempt to turn back the pages of history
   • her conceited assumption of universal interest in her rather dull children was ridiculous
2. inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense
   • the absurd predicament of seeming to argue that virtue is highly desirable but intensely unpleasant- Walter Lippman

Noun

1. a situation in which life seems irrational and meaningless
   • The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth--Albert Camus

Từ đồng nghĩa

• cockeyed
• derisory
• idiotic
• laughable
• ludicrous
• nonsensical
• preposterous
• ridiculous
• the absurd