Definition of ABSURD

absurd

Meanings

Plural: absurds

Noun

  • a situation in which life seems irrational and meaningless; --Albert Camus
    • "The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth"
  • An absurdity.
  • The opposition between the human search for meaning in life and the inability to find any; the state or condition in which man exists in an irrational universe and his life has no meaning outside of his existence.

Adjective Satellite

  • inconsistent with reason or logic or common sense; - Walter Lippman
    • "the absurd predicament of seeming to argue that virtue is highly desirable but intensely unpleasant"
  • incongruous;inviting ridicule
    • "the absurd excuse that the dog ate his homework"

Adj

  • Contrary to reason or propriety; obviously and flatly opposed to manifest truth; inconsistent with the plain dictates of common sense; logically contradictory; nonsensical; ridiculous; silly.
  • Inharmonious; dissonant.
  • Having no rational or orderly relationship to people's lives; meaningless; lacking order or value.
  • Dealing with absurdism.

Origin / 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.

Scrabble Score: 9

absurd is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
absurd is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
absurd is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 11

absurd is a valid Words With Friends word