Preposterous
[prɪ'pɒst(ə)rəs] or [prɪ'pɑstərəs]
Definition
(a.) Having that first which ought to be last; inverted in order.
(a.) Contrary to nature or reason; not adapted to the end; utterly and glaringly foolish; unreasonably absurd; perverted.
Typist: Tyler
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. [1]. Perverted, having the cart before the horse, reversed.[2]. Absurd, unreasonable, ridiculous, irrational, foolish, monstrous.
Checked by Edmond
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Monstrous, exorbitant, unreasonable, absurd, irrational, foolish, ridiculous
ANT:Just, due, fair, reasonable, moderate, right, judicious, orderly, sound
Editor: Margaret
Definition
adj. contrary to nature or reason: wrong: absurd: foolish.—adv. Prepos′terously.—n. Prepos′terousness unreasonableness.
Editor: Miles
Examples
- This preposterous order roused the Carthaginians to despair. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- It is at present a quite inexplicable story, and we give these preposterous facts with no attempt to rationalize them. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- It does seem a very preposterous way of settling a dispute. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- For all the preposterous hat and the vacuous face, there was something noble in the simple faith of our visitor which compelled our respect. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
- Most preposterous! Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- The first is the making of Pycroft write a declaration by which he entered the service of this preposterous company. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- Number two, Pa, is much to the same purpose, though not so preposterous. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- Preposterous stuff! Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- I thought it was utterly preposterous--I distrusted it as the result of some perversity in my own imagination. Wilkie Collins. The Woman in White.
- Sir Astley Cooper, the eminent surgeon, said to Robert Stephenson, when the latter called to see him about a new road, Your scheme is preposterous in the extreme. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
- It was the most preposterous position in which I ever found myself in my life, and it was the thought of it that started me laughing just now. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
- It seems too preposterous. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- The idea of your having to work--it's preposterous. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- The idea of any of the servants being in league with the Indians is a preposterous absurdity, in my opinion. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- At this point I agreed with you that it was preposterous, and was glad to find that all my deductions had been correct. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes.
- To savages it would seem preposterous to seek out a place where nothing but learning was going on in order that one might learn. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- Utterly preposterous as his cravat was, and as his collars were, I was conscious of a sort of dignity in the look. Charles Dickens. Great Expectations.
- Perhaps it seems preposterous to discuss baseball and syndicalism in the same paragraph. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- The human mind has at no period accepted a moral chaos; and so preposterous a result was not strictly conceivable. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- The case was plain, but it seemed preposterous, nevertheless--as preposterous as trying to knock down a mountain or wipe out a continent. Mark Twain. The Innocents Abroad.
- The cry raised against these men by the average reformer is a piece of cold, unreal, preposterous idealism compared to the solid warm facts of kindliness, clothes, food and fun. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
Editor: Miles