how preposterous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "how preposterous" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express disbelief or strong disapproval of something that seems absurd or ridiculous. Example: "When I heard the proposal to cut funding for education, I couldn't help but exclaim, 'How preposterous!'"

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

39 human-written examples

HOW preposterous?

The New York Times

How preposterous!

The New York Times - Style

How preposterous is that?" Very.

The New York Times

He keeps reminding us how preposterous this premise is.

The New Yorker

But he's just succeeded in revealing how preposterous that alternative narrative really is.

The Washington Post

You can take any idea, no matter how preposterous, and make half the country believe it.

The Washington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

21 human-written examples

... What Barry Blitt had in mind with "The Politics of Fear" was to take all the lies, stereotypes, and false images that were being painted of Barack Obama, on Fox News and in the kind of attack books we now see being published, and throw them into one image to highlight just how crazy, preposterous, and pernicious they were.

Princeton University

If Punk'd's raison d'etre was to be as brutal as possible – making Justin Timberlake cry, basically – then Glitchy shares more with Trigger Happy TV's good-natured silliness; seeing how far preposterous situations can be pushed without its "victims" calling bullshit.

The Guardian - TV & Radio

It is not clear how this preposterous conclusion made its way into the public as an official publication of CBO, without someone there catching it.

HuffPost

Heaven only knows how the increasingly preposterous clean movement is going to top this.

The Guardian - Opinion

It seems preposterous: how can the clothing of schoolgirls become an issue of such enormous symbolic weight that for 14 years it has been the touchstone of a debate about the French constitution, about what it is to be French and how France should "integrate" its 3.7 million Muslims - the largest Muslim minority in Europe?

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "how preposterous" to express strong disagreement or disbelief in a situation you find absurd or ridiculous. It adds emphasis to your disapproval.

Common error

While effective in many situations, avoid overusing "how preposterous" in highly formal or professional writing. Opt for more nuanced and less emotive language to maintain a balanced tone.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "how preposterous" functions as an exclamatory expression indicating disbelief or strong disagreement. It introduces a statement that the speaker finds absurd or ridiculous. Ludwig examples showcase its use in various contexts to emphasize the speaker's negative assessment of a situation.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

95%

Academia

2%

Science

2%

Less common in

Formal & Business

1%

Wiki

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "how preposterous" is a phrase used to express disbelief or strong disagreement with something considered absurd or ridiculous. As Ludwig AI confirms, the phrase is correct and appropriate for use in written English. It's most commonly found in News & Media but can also appear in academic and scientific contexts. While generally neutral, avoiding overuse in excessively formal settings is advisable. Alternatives like "how absurd" or "how ridiculous" can offer similar sentiments. The examples show its usage to emphasize the speaker's negative reaction to an idea or situation, highlighting its absurdity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

how absurd

Replaces 'preposterous' with 'absurd', keeping the same structure and conveying a similar level of disbelief.

how ridiculous

Substitutes 'preposterous' with 'ridiculous', maintaining the sentence structure and conveying a similar sense of absurdity.

how ludicrous

Replaces 'preposterous' with 'ludicrous', offering a slightly more formal tone while expressing a similar sentiment.

how absurd is that

Adds "is that" to the end of the original phrase, to question the absurdity of a specific action.

how utterly ridiculous

Emphasizes the ridiculousness with the addition of 'utterly', intensifying the feeling.

how outrageous

Uses 'outrageous' instead of 'preposterous', shifting the focus to the shocking or offensive nature of the situation.

how nonsensical

Substitutes 'preposterous' with 'nonsensical', focusing on the lack of logic or reason in the situation.

how unbelievable

Replaces 'preposterous' with 'unbelievable', highlighting the incredulous aspect of the situation.

how far-fetched

Uses 'far-fetched' instead of 'preposterous', emphasizing the implausibility of the idea.

can you believe how ridiculous

Transforms the phrase into a question expressing astonishment at the ridiculousness of something.

FAQs

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

You can use "how preposterous" to express disbelief or strong disapproval, such as, "How preposterous that they would even suggest such a thing!"

What's a more formal alternative to "how preposterous"?

For more formal situations, consider using phrases like "how unlikely", "how improbable", or "how implausible".

Is "how preposterous" appropriate for academic writing?

While "how preposterous" can be used, consider the tone of your academic paper. More neutral language might be preferable to maintain objectivity. Alternatives could be, "how unfounded" or "how tenuous".

What can I say instead of "how preposterous" to sound less judgmental?

To sound less judgmental, you could say "how questionable", "how dubious", or "how uncertain", which express doubt without strong disapproval.