Absurdity — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /əb-ˈsər-də-tē/ ab·sur·di·ty

Meaning & Definition of Absurdity

Absurdity (noun)

  1. the quality or state of being absurd, absurdness
  2. something that is absurd

Absurdity (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a foolish act or idea

    "to say men can't cook as well as women is of course an absurdity"

    similar: asininity, bêtise, fatuity, folly, foolery, foppery, idiocy, imbecility, inanity, insanity, lunacy, stupidity
    related: absurdness, craziness, foolishness, inaneness, madness, senselessness, witlessness, buffoonery, monkeyshine(s), shenanigan(s), tomfoolery, drivel, humbug, nonsense, twaddle, blunder, bungle, flub, goof, howler
    near: discretion, forethought, prudence, sagacity, wisdom, brainstorm, inspiration

  2. lack of good sense or judgment

    "the absurdity of expecting a 98-year-old woman to adequately supervise four six-year-olds"

    similar: asininity, balminess, brainlessness, craziness, daftness, dippiness, dottiness, fatuity, fatuousness, folly, foolishness, imbecility, inanity, insanity, lunacy, madness, nonsensicalness, nuttiness, preposterousness, senselessness, silliness, simplicity, unwisdom, wackiness, witlessness, zaniness
    related: denseness, dim-wittedness, doltishness, dopiness, dullness, dumbness, feeblemindedness, gormlessness (chiefly British), idiocy, mindlessness, oafishness, obtuseness, simplemindedness, simpleness, slowness, stupidity, stupidness, vacuity, fallacy, irrationality, unreasonableness, kookiness, weirdness, laughableness, ludicrousness, ridiculousness
    opposite: prudence, sagaciousness, sagacity, sageness, sanity, sapience, sensibleness, soundness, wisdom
    near: logicality, logicalness, rationality, rationalness, reasonability, reasonableness, validity, discernment, insight, perception, percipience

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Absurdity

The most common words with a similar meaning to Absurdity:

asininity, bêtise, fatuity, folly, foolery, foppery, idiocy, imbecility, inanity, insanity, lunacy, stupidity, balminess, brainlessness, craziness, daftness, dippiness, dottiness, fatuousness, foolishness, madness, nonsensicalness, nuttiness, preposterousness, senselessness, silliness, simplicity, unwisdom, wackiness, witlessness, zaniness

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Absurdity

Words with the opposite meaning of Absurdity:

prudence, sagaciousness, sagacity, sageness, sanity, sapience, sensibleness, soundness, wisdom

Related Words for Absurdity

absurdness, inaneness, buffoonery, monkeyshine(s), shenanigan(s), tomfoolery, drivel, humbug, nonsense, twaddle, blunder, bungle, flub, goof, howler, denseness, dim-wittedness, doltishness, dopiness, dullness, dumbness, feeblemindedness, gormlessness, mindlessness, oafishness, obtuseness, simplemindedness, simpleness, slowness, stupidness

Near Antonyms of Absurdity

discretion, forethought, brainstorm, inspiration, logicality, logicalness, rationality, rationalness, reasonability, reasonableness, validity, discernment, insight, perception, percipience

Word Forms of Absurdity

Inflections: absurdities

Origin & Etymology of Absurdity

Middle English absurditee "dissonance, unjust practice," borrowed from Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French absurdité, borrowed from Late Latin absurditāt-, absurditās, from Latin absurdus absurd:1 + -itāt-, -itās -ity

First known use: circa 1525

Frequently Asked Questions about Absurdity

What does "Absurdity" mean?

"Absurdity" means the quality or state of being absurd, absurdness. As a noun, it is defined as: the quality or state of being absurd, absurdness. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Absurdity"?

Other words for "Absurdity" include asininity, bêtise, fatuity, folly, foolery, foppery, idiocy and imbecility. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Absurdity" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Absurdity"?

There are 70 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Absurdity". Common alternatives include asininity, bêtise, fatuity, folly, foolery, foppery, idiocy, imbecility, inanity and insanity.

What is the opposite of "Absurdity"?

Antonyms of "Absurdity" include prudence, sagaciousness, sagacity, sageness, sanity, sapience, sensibleness and soundness. Near antonyms include discretion, forethought, brainstorm and inspiration.

How do you use "Absurdity" in a sentence?

Examples of "Absurdity" in a sentence: "to say men can't cook as well as women is of course an absurdity"; "the absurdity of expecting a 98-year-old woman to adequately supervise four six-year-olds".

Is "Absurdity" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Absurdity" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Absurdity"?

"Absurdity" is pronounced /əb-ˈsər-də-tē/ and divided into syllables as ab·sur·di·ty.

What is the origin of the word "Absurdity"?

"Absurdity" comes from Middle English absurditee "dissonance, unjust practice," borrowed from Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French absurdité, borrowed from Late Latin absurditāt-, absurditās, from Latin absurdus absurd:1 + -itāt-, -itās -ity. First known use: circa 1525.