absurd
gb/əbsˈɚd/ us/əbsˈɚd/
B2
English
~ 3000
abszurd, nevetséges, abszurdista
B2
1
abszurd
B2
nevetséges
B1
Usage pattern:
[something] is absurd
It's absurd to drive such a short distance.
Abszurd ilyen rövid távolságot autóval megtenni.
The idea that the Earth is flat is absurd.
Abszurd az az elképzelés, hogy a Föld lapos.
He found the price of the shoes completely absurd.
They laughed at the absurd claim.
Her excuse was so absurd that no one believed her.
Learner examples
That rule is absurd.
Ez a szabály abszurd.
It is absurd to pay so much money for this.
Abszurd ennyi pénzt fizetni ezért.
His story sounds absurd.
The price is absurd.
This plan is absurd.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'absurd' with 'abstract'. 'Absurd' means illogical or unreasonable, while 'abstract' refers to something theoretical or not concrete.
Meaning
extremely unreasonable or illogical
Collocations
utterly absurd
|completely absurd
|seem absurd
|sound absurd
|absurd idea
Synonyms
ridiculous (Often suggests something silly or laughable, sometimes with less emphasis on logic than 'absurd'.)
|
preposterous (Stronger and more formal than 'absurd', often implying outrage at the lack of logic.)
Antonyms
reasonable (Implies being fair, logical, and acceptable, the opposite of 'absurd'.)
|
sensible (Implies showing good judgment and practicality, the opposite of 'absurd'.)
Themes
opinions
|logic
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Very silly, strange, or not reasonable.
So unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate that it is hard to believe or accept.
C1
LITERARY
2
abszurd
C1
abszurdista
C1
Usage pattern:
[something] is absurd
The play is full of absurd characters and situations.
A darab tele van abszurd szereplőkkel és helyzetekkel.
His humor borders on the absurd.
A humora az abszurd határát súrolja.
The film takes an absurd approach to serious topics.
Learner examples
The movie was funny because it was absurd.
A film azért volt vicces, mert abszurd volt.
That book has many absurd stories.
Abban a könyvben sok abszurd történet van.
The play showed an absurd world.
Meaning
comically out of touch with reality
Collocations
absurd comedy
|absurd situation
|absurd humor
Synonyms
surreal (Suggests dreamlike strangeness rather than pure illogic.)
|
bizarre (Implies extreme oddness, sometimes without the humorous tone of 'absurd'.)
Antonyms
realistic (Describes something true to life, the opposite of fantastically illogical or strange.)
Themes
art
|humor
|literature
|arts_entertainment
Definition
Very strange in a funny way because it does not make sense.
Surreal or fantastical in a way that defies reason, often used in literature, theater, or art to create humor or highlight meaninglessness.
Grammar
Dictionary form
absurd
IPA
GB/əbsˈɚd/
US/əbsˈɚd/
Syllables & stress
ab - surd (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (surd)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: absurd
Word family
Core family
absurdly
adverb
absurdity
noun B2
Advanced or less common
absurdism
noun
absurdist
noun
Expressions
reduction to the absurd
1/ɹɪdˈʌkʃən tə ðə əbsˈɚd/
fixed phrase
formal
arguing by showing a ridiculous result
A way to show an idea is wrong by showing it leads to something silly or impossible.
Examples
- The philosopher used a reduction to the absurd to disprove the claim.
- Her argument ends in a reduction to the absurd.
theatre of the absurd
1/θˈiətɚ əv ðə əbsˈɚd/
fixed phrase
literary
drama showing life as meaningless
A kind of play that shows life as strange and without clear meaning.
Examples
- Samuel Beckett's 'Waiting for Godot' is a classic example of theatre of the absurd.
- She compared the endless meeting to a scene from the theatre of the absurd.