WordGarden.ioabsurdly
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /əbsˈɜːdli/
US
- /əbˈsɜrdli/
Meanings
Adverb
to an absurd or ridiculous degree
in a wildly unreasonable or ridiculous way
Beyond the definition
Imagine a hat made entirely of pickles. That's absurd. To describe something as "absurdly" large, expensive, or silly means it's so extreme that it borders on ridiculous—almost beyond belief! It isn't just big, it's absurdly big. It isn't just strange, it's absurdly strange.
The word hints at something illogical or unreasonable. You might describe a situation as "absurd" if it doesn't make any sense, and "absurdly" intensifies that feeling of unreasonableness. Think of the play Waiting for Godot; many consider its premise to be absurd, and the characters' reactions often feel—well—absurdly calm given the circumstances!
"Absurdly" is an adverb used to emphasize how extreme or ridiculous something is. It takes a quality—like large, expensive, difficult, or strange—and pushes it to an almost unbelievable level. It suggests that something goes beyond what's reasonable or logical, venturing into the realm of the preposterous.
You might say, "The price of gas has risen absurdly high," meaning the increase is so significant that it's shocking and unreasonable. Or perhaps, "He was absurdly optimistic about his chances," implying his hopefulness was unrealistic given the situation.
The root of "absurd" comes from the Latin word absurdus, meaning "out of tune" or "discordant." This hints at the idea that something absurd is out of harmony with reality, logic, or common sense. It's often used to describe situations that are illogical, chaotic, or even humorous in their strangeness.
Think about a character who insists on wearing a tuxedo to the beach—it's not just unusual; it's absurdly out of place! Or consider a politician making promises they clearly can't keep—those claims might be described as absurdly ambitious.
So, when something is "absurdly" anything, prepare for a description that stretches the boundaries of believability and often invites a chuckle—or perhaps a shake of the head in disbelief.
Examples
- 1
High prices
The tickets were absurdly expensive, so we watched the game at home.
- 2
Morning routine
He gets up absurdly early, even on weekends.
- 3
Good value
The little cafe was absurdly cheap for such good food.
- 4
Phone battery
My phone battery drains absurdly fast in cold weather.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Low pay
She was paid absurdly little for that amount of work.
See also
Similar
- ridiculously
- ludicrously
- preposterously
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- absurdly expensive
- absurdly high
- absurdly easy
- act absurdly
Word family
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Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- absurdlyadverb