Absurdities

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Instances or concepts that embody extreme foolishness or ill logic are referred to as ridiculous occurrences
2. Events or notions that challenge rational thought and common sense are classified as preposterous situations
3. Things or ideas that are wildly unreasonable or silly beyond belief

Etymology: Latin speakers built "absurdus" from "ab-," meaning "away from," and "surdus," which meant "deaf" but also "dull" or "muffled." An "absurdus" sound was one that was out of tune, a note jarring against the harmony around it. Over time the sense moved from sound toward sense itself, so something absurd came to mean something out of line with reason. The Latin noun "absurditas" grew from that adjective, and English later took up the noun as "absurdity." "Absurdities" is simply its plural, used when speaking of several such things or ideas at once.

Synonyms: nonsensicality, foolishness, ridiculousness, illogicality, incongruity

Antonyms: sense, reasonableness, logic, rationality, sanity