Adjective: absurd
Comparison Forms
Synthetic
| Comparative | absurder |
| Superlative | absurdest |
Perifrastic
| Comparative | more absurd |
| Superlative | most absurd |
Sample Sentences
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This proffer is absurd and reasonless. [1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The First Part of Henry the Sixt”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act V, scene iv]:]
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'Tis phrase absurd to call a villain great [1734, [Alexander Pope], An Essay on Man. […], epistle IV, London: […] J[ohn] Wilford, […], →OCLC:]
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“Perhaps it is because I have been excommunicated. It's absurd, but I feel like the Jackdaw of Rheims.” ¶ She winced and bowed her head. Each time that he spoke flippantly of the Church he caused her pain. [1918, W[illiam] B[abington] Maxwell, chapter XVII, in The Mirror and the Lamp, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC:]
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I know it sounds absurd / But please, tell me who I am [1979, “The Logical Song”, in Roger Hodgson (lyrics), Breakfast in America, performed by Supertramp:]
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Adults have condemned them to live in what must seem like an absurd universe. [1968 March 2, Joseph Featherstone, “A New Kind of Schooling”, in The New Republic:]
Adjectives inflected like absurd
wholsom,
seldom,
scared,
solemn,
silent,
beloved,
uptight,
perfect,
useless,
up-tight,
selfish,
distinct,
discreet,
Dutch,
reckless,
bumfuck,
worthless,
slender,
faithfull,
shallow, etc. (List truncated at 20 adjectives)
Etymology
First attested in 1557. From Middle French absurde, from Latin absurdus (“incongruous, dissonant, out of tune”), from ab (“away from, out”) + surdus (“silent, deaf, dull-sounding”). Compare surd. See: Latin Adjectives '
absurdus'.
Verbs referencing "absurd"
Finnish Adjectives
absurdi.