absurdity

noun

əb-ˈsər-də-tē How to pronounce absurdity (audio)
Definition of absurditynext
1
as in insanity
a foolish act or idea to say men can't cook as well as women is of course an absurdity

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in madness
lack of good sense or judgment the absurdity of expecting a 98-year-old woman to adequately supervise four six-year-olds

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of absurdity This absurdity reached its height in 1978, when journalists and whistleblowers collecting information on state communication networks were put on trial for violating the Official Secrets Act. — David Szondy august 01, New Atlas, 1 Aug. 2026 Laughter reframes these experiences from tragedy to absurdity, helping individuals push back against negative aging stereotypes. — Jann E. Freed, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026 And there’s an absurdity to that scene, which Daeron is feeling just in the shock of it in itself. — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 27 July 2026 Mark McCreary, co-chair of the artificial intelligence practice at law firm Fox Rothschild, points out the absurdity of the system itself. — Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 26 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for absurdity
Recent Examples of Synonyms for absurdity
  1. insanity
  2. madness
  3. idiocy
  4. simplicity
  5. craziness
Noun
  • Clancy, 36, has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity to three counts of murder in the killings of her children Cora, 5; Dawson, 3; and Callan, 8 months.
    — Nicki Brown, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026
  • While known as lacking criminal responsibility under Massachusetts law, the defense is more commonly referred to as not guilty by reason of insanity.
    — Melina Khan, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of insanity
Noun
  • Third, the powder and paint was relentless to the point of ecstatic madness—exactly as Jouvert is meant to be.
    — Baz Dreisinger, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • During the madness, Steven Bodner and another man, both 23, were stabbed on Nagle Ave.
    — Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of madness
Noun
  • It’s been a classic staple over decades of British comedy, which from Basil Fawlty to David Brent has rejoiced in puncturing pomposity to reveal idiocy and incompetence.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The school board’s radical idiocy does not negate the state’s obligation to think about the longer haul — specifically, the structurally unbalanced budgets facing Chicago Public Schools as far as the eye can see.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 7 Aug. 2026
Definition of idiocy
Noun
  • Warchus adds that the production’s essential character, built on simplicity rather than spectacle, will not change with the move.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 25 Aug. 2026
  • The restaurant has survived mostly by word-of-mouth, Quintana said, quite a feat in today’s restaurant landscape, and its simplicity is a stand-out feature among Kansas Citians.
    — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of simplicity
Noun
  • And there’s plenty more moving yet outrageous craziness to come.
    — Alex Ritman, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, 1982 Before the kids, the craziness and the reality show, the head-over-heels Brits tied the knot in Maui, Hawaii.
    — Kate Hogan, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026
Definition of craziness

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absurdities
absurdity
absurdness
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Cite this Entry

“Absurdity.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/absurdity. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on absurdity

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about absurdity

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