highly absurd

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "highly absurd" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to emphasize the extreme level of absurdity in a situation or statement. Example: "The idea that we could solve the problem overnight was highly absurd, given the complexity of the issues involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

2 human-written examples

His attempts to stump Avery with highly absurd pairings in the parlor game Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon leave him dumbfounded at Avery's prowess.

The New York Times

The highly absurd charge, which the English band denied, concerned a work of Hoepfner's, ironically called "The Songs I Didn't Write," and Coldplay's hit "Viva la Vida".

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

58 human-written examples

Elif Batuman does a magnificent job of guiding us through the labyrinthine world of Kafka's literary estate (or what remains of it among the papers of his longtime executor and friend Max Brod) and the highly contentious, occasionally absurd battle to win possession over it.

The New York Times - Magazine

Fees of "2 and 20" are typical among large hedge funds, so the fee structure is highly noteworthy, and absurd.

Huffington Post

In the New York Times, A.O. Scott noted, "The Greek filmmaker Yorgos Lanthimos is a deadpan dystopian comedian, an inventor of absurd, highly regulated societies that seem to exist in hidden pockets of everyday reality".

Los Angeles Times

Whether it was their "Vogue-approved" handmade reunion outfits or quirky workout gear costume designer Mona May said would have been made by Romy and Michele themselves, these pals communicated through clothing as much as their absurd, highly quotable dialogue.

HuffPost

But he has done something in this book that is highly original and not absurd at all.

The New Yorker

As his testimony and revised report show, Professor Black stood by his ultimate conclusions, he merely modified his language, changing his description of Mr. Kiggen's projections from "absurd" to "highly optimistic". (Black Dep. Tr. 104:2-10; 168:12:18). As regrettable as any mistake is, this one error does not render his entire report unreliable.

Harvard University

"One would be hard-pressed to discover anyone with a working knowledge of how federal contracts are awarded -- whether a career civil servant working on procurement or an independent academic expert -- who doesn't regard these allegations as being somewhere between highly improbable and utterly absurd," he observed.

The New York Times

As a result, many concrete applications or results suggested by original intentions and understandings may now seem absurd or highly undesirable in light of new scientific and social developments and improved moral understanding.

SEP

If you consider that firewalls and antivirus programs on your home notebook run full time to prevent attacks, the lack of similar protection in the IoT world is an absurd and highly dangerous situation.

Forbes

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "highly absurd" to emphasize the extreme level of illogicality or unreasonableness in a situation or statement. It's suitable when you want to express strong disbelief.

Common error

While "highly absurd" is acceptable, avoid overusing it in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for synonyms like "patently ludicrous" or "thoroughly preposterous" to maintain a more sophisticated tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "highly absurd" functions as a compound adjective modifying a noun or noun phrase. According to Ludwig AI, it emphasizes the extreme degree of absurdity. It intensifies the adjective "absurd" to denote something exceptionally illogical or unreasonable.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Academia

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "highly absurd" is a grammatically sound and usable expression to emphasize the extreme level of absurdity. Ludwig AI analysis indicates it is used to convey strong disagreement or disbelief, typically in neutral to slightly formal contexts, like news reports and academic discussions. While examples are rare, the phrase's meaning is clear. For those seeking alternatives, "utterly ridiculous" or "extremely nonsensical" offer similar emphasis. Consider the context when choosing whether to use "highly absurd" or a synonym to maintain the desired tone.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

utterly ridiculous

Replaces "highly absurd" with a more informal expression that still conveys strong disbelief.

extremely nonsensical

Emphasizes the lack of sense or logic, using "nonsensical" instead of "absurd".

patently ludicrous

Replaces "highly" with "patently", suggesting obvious absurdity.

thoroughly preposterous

Uses a more formal and emphatic term, "preposterous", for heightened effect.

blatantly irrational

Focuses on the lack of rationality, offering a slightly different angle on absurdity.

downright laughable

Suggests the absurdity is so great it's worthy of ridicule.

simply outrageous

Conveys a sense of absurdity through the idea of something being shockingly unacceptable.

incredibly far-fetched

Shifts the focus to the improbability of something, implying absurdity.

exceptionally unreasonable

Highlights the lack of reason, presenting a more diplomatic alternative.

quite nonsensical

Uses a simpler, more direct term while retaining the core meaning.

FAQs

What does "highly absurd" mean?

The phrase "highly absurd" means something is extremely ridiculous, illogical, or unreasonable. It's used to express a strong sense of disbelief or incredulity.

How can I use "highly absurd" in a sentence?

You can use "highly absurd" to describe claims, ideas, or situations that are exceptionally silly or make no sense. For example: "The claim that the earth is flat is "highly absurd"."

What are some alternatives to "highly absurd"?

Alternatives to "highly absurd" include "utterly ridiculous", "extremely nonsensical", or "patently ludicrous".

Is "highly absurd" formal or informal?

"Highly absurd" is generally considered neutral to slightly formal. While acceptable in most contexts, consider more sophisticated alternatives in highly formal writing. See also "thoroughly preposterous".