slightly preposterous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "slightly preposterous" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe something that is somewhat absurd or unreasonable, but not entirely so. Example: "The idea that we could finish the project in one day seemed slightly preposterous to the team."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Film

Books

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

9 human-written examples

It might be a slightly preposterous plan, but it's not insane.

The Guardian

Miami has always had a slightly preposterous side, but this week it feels even weirder due to the electronic musical epiphany mainstream America is going through.

The Guardian - Music

When details of the projects were released, they sounded slightly preposterous, but when the cars went into production they comfortably met their original targets, establishing records for, respectively, performance and fuel efficiency.

The New York Times

The New Republic's Noam Scheiber writes about the Romney-campaign adviStuart Stevensvens: The story has all the elements of a classic Stevens tale: exotic scenery, surly natives, a faint whiff of violence, and, of course, a slightly preposterous hero.

The New Yorker

Whiplash is a study in the misery and cruelty that's always involved in teaching a musical instrument at the highest level: it's outrageously watchable, very well acted, slightly preposterous, and nowhere near as desperately important as it thinks it is.

The Guardian - Film

IT'S funny how most women in movies of the 60's look slightly preposterous in the bouffant flips and false eyelashes of the day - except Catherine Deneuve, who looks spectacular in Luis Bunuel's BELLE DE JOUR (1967).

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

50 human-written examples

She cruelly manipulates April, who follows her right into a slightly too preposterous headline-making tragedy.

The New York Times - Books

But the idea that a convict serving a 30-year sentence should repent for breaking out of Wandsworth nick is only slightly less preposterous than the notion that anyone would believe him if he did.

The Guardian - Opinion

A serial adulterer who totes his own wedge-shaped bolster to his assignations, Harry hooks up with Linda through the Internet, an improbability only slightly less preposterous than the computer disk of C.I.A. secrets that ends up floating around Linda and Chad's gym and leading them in a world of trouble.

The New York Times

Pérez's justification - "We want someone with a high technical ability but a slightly lower profile" - was a preposterous mistruth: if Del Bosque had any lower a profile he'd have been on a missing person's list.

The Guardian - Sport

But others argued that Westerners simply lacked the education in totalitarianism that revealed his preposterous situations as merely slightly exaggerated versions of everyday realities.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "slightly preposterous" when you want to express that something is somewhat absurd or ridiculous, but not entirely unbelievable or outrageous. It's suitable for softening a strong statement.

Common error

While "slightly preposterous" is acceptable, overuse can make your writing sound less serious. In formal contexts, consider more direct alternatives like "somewhat implausible" or "questionable" to maintain professionalism.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "slightly preposterous" functions as an adjectival modifier, adding a nuanced description to a noun. As Ludwig AI confirms, it tempers the strength of the adjective "preposterous", indicating a degree of absurdity that is not overwhelming but still noticeable. Many examples on Ludwig highlight its usage in describing ideas or plans.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Film

10%

Books

8%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Encyclopedias

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "slightly preposterous" serves as a useful tool for expressing mild skepticism or amusement, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. Grammatically sound and relatively common, it is often found in journalistic writing and film reviews. As the provided examples via Ludwig indicate, it is most useful for tempering strong assertions. Remember to consider your audience and writing context to ensure that your tone is appropriate. In more formal situations consider using alternatives such as "somewhat implausible" or "questionable".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

a touch preposterous

Maintains the core meaning by replacing "slightly" with "a touch", offering a minor variation in wording.

somewhat absurd

Replaces "preposterous" with "absurd", maintaining a sense of unreasonableness but altering the specific tone.

marginally absurd

Emphasizes the slight degree of absurdity, maintaining a similar tone to the original phrase.

somewhat ludicrous

Uses "ludicrous" to replace "preposterous", implying something laughably absurd.

mildly ridiculous

Substitutes "preposterous" with "ridiculous", suggesting something laughable or silly in a gentle way.

a bit far-fetched

Indicates something unlikely or improbable, similar to being preposterous, but with a focus on believability.

somewhat implausible

Replaces "preposterous" with "implausible", highlighting the lack of credibility or likelihood.

a tad unreasonable

Highlights the lack of reason or justification, similar to being preposterous through its irrationality.

a little outlandish

Suggests something unconventional or bizarre, sharing the sense of being preposterous through its strangeness.

slightly unbelievable

Focuses on the lack of believability, similar to preposterous but emphasizing the difficulty in accepting something as true.

FAQs

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

You can use "slightly preposterous" to describe plans, ideas, or situations that seem somewhat absurd or unlikely. For example, "The idea of building a city on Mars seems "slightly preposterous" at first glance".

What are some alternatives to "slightly preposterous"?

Some alternatives include "somewhat absurd", "mildly ridiculous", or "a bit far-fetched". The best choice depends on the specific context and the nuance you want to convey.

Is it grammatically correct to say "slightly preposterous"?

Yes, "slightly preposterous" is grammatically correct. It combines the adverb "slightly" with the adjective "preposterous" to modify its intensity.

What is the difference between "slightly preposterous" and "completely preposterous"?

"Slightly preposterous" indicates a mild degree of absurdity or unreasonableness, while "completely preposterous" suggests something is entirely ridiculous or unbelievable. The former is a toned-down version of the latter.