clearly preposterous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "clearly preposterous" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is obviously absurd or ridiculous. Example: "The idea that we could solve the problem overnight was clearly preposterous."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

Hunt does perfectly fine with a script that calls for standard issue spunkiness and weeping, though she can't quite sell the clearly preposterous romance.

The Guardian - Film

The text described Little Boy's gun barrel as having been made of wood, a suggestion that was clearly preposterous, and could have passed muster only with a publisher of art books.

The New Yorker

We've come close – Scandal is clearly preposterous but takes itself slightly too seriously, and House of Cards perpetually seems seconds away from turning into a full-scale Frankie Howerd parody of itself – but it has always been hard to shake the feeling that most modern showrunners have been too busy eyeing up prestige to fully commit to trash.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

I appreciate that the monument needs to be protected, and that a nominal sum could fairly be charged for the cost of a fence and a few guards, but £72 for a timed visit is clearly preposterous for those who are happy to walk from the perimeter, and simply want to wander round the stones, without buying a Henge in a Snowstorm (they don't really sell that, do they?) in the shop.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

The prospect of a female Presidential contender clearly seemed preposterous to many.

The New Yorker

That is a preposterous question, clearly.

The Economist

But there are other moments when it seems both knowingly preposterous and preposterously entertaining, the work of a band who've clearly been playing to audiences this huge for years, and have come to the conclusion that more is more.

The Guardian - Music

"Why don't we get a heated driveway," he suggested, a clearly reasonable alternative to my preposterous suggestion.

Huffington Post

There is, in fact, some political history that suggests that the notion of a third-party candidate being elected mayor, while clearly a long shot, is not preposterous.

The New York Times

"It clearly is an utterly pathetic and preposterous act of desperation that insults people's intelligence.

Huffington Post

The solution is ingenious, bordering on preposterous, and Higashino's skill clearly lies in contrivance rather than characterisation – but the process of deduction is fascinating.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "clearly preposterous" when you want to emphasize that something is not just absurd, but also obviously so. It adds a layer of undeniable ridiculousness to your statement.

Common error

While effective, using "clearly preposterous" too frequently can make your writing sound repetitive or overly dramatic. Consider using synonyms like "patently absurd" or "obviously ridiculous" to vary your language.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "clearly preposterous" functions as an adjectival phrase, modifying a noun or noun phrase to describe something as both obviously and utterly absurd. As Ludwig AI confirms, it emphasizes the blatant nature of the absurdity. It serves to highlight the extreme unreasonableness of a concept or suggestion.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Academia

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "clearly preposterous" is a grammatically correct and usable adjectival phrase used to describe something as obviously absurd or ridiculous. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in written English. While relatively rare, it is most commonly found in News & Media contexts. The phrase serves to express strong disagreement or disbelief, emphasizing the blatant nature of the absurdity. For alternative expressions, consider "patently absurd" or "obviously ridiculous". When using "clearly preposterous", ensure it is used judiciously to avoid repetitive writing and to maintain a tone that is emphatic but not overly dramatic.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

evidently preposterous

Replaces "clearly" with "evidently", keeping "preposterous" while maintaining a sense of obviousness.

patently absurd

Replaces "clearly" with "patently", emphasizing the obvious nature of the absurdity.

obviously ridiculous

Substitutes "preposterous" with "ridiculous" for a slightly less formal tone and replaces "clearly" with "obviously".

plainly ludicrous

Replaces "clearly" with "plainly" and "preposterous" with "ludicrous", both indicating an easily apparent absurdity.

blatantly nonsensical

Uses stronger terms like "blatantly" and "nonsensical" to highlight the lack of sense in something.

undeniably absurd

Emphasizes the irrefutable nature of the absurdity, using "undeniably" instead of "clearly".

manifestly false

Shifts the focus to the falsity of the statement, presenting it as obviously untrue.

transparently foolish

Highlights the lack of wisdom or intelligence behind something, using "transparently" and "foolish".

flagrantly unreasonable

Focuses on the lack of reason or logic, using "flagrantly" to emphasize the obviousness of the unreasonableness.

distinctly farcical

Emphasizes the ridiculous and comical nature of something, implying it's like a farce.

FAQs

How can I use "clearly preposterous" in a sentence?

"Clearly preposterous" is used to describe something that is obviously absurd or ridiculous. For example, "The suggestion that we could finish the project in one day was "clearly preposterous"."

What are some alternatives to "clearly preposterous"?

Alternatives include "patently absurd", "obviously ridiculous", or "plainly ludicrous". The best choice depends on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is "clearly preposterous" formal or informal?

"Clearly preposterous" leans toward a slightly formal tone but can be used in various contexts where you want to emphasize the obvious absurdity of something. There may be cases where you may choose "plainly ludicrous" instead of "clearly preposterous".

What does "clearly preposterous" emphasize?

The phrase emphasizes both the absurdity of something and the fact that it is undeniably obvious to anyone. It suggests the idea is so far-fetched as to be laughable.