Standard Lemma guide

preposterously

adv · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • Received-Pronunciation: /pɹɪˈpɒstɹəsli/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /pɹɪˈpɒstəɹəsli/
  • Received-Pronunciation: /pɹə-/
  • General-American: /pɹəˈpɑstɹəsli/
  • General-American: /pɹəˈpɑstəɹəsli/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

adv

Meaning 1

In a preposterous manner.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adverb

Meaning 2

so as to arouse or deserve laughter

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • her income was laughably small, but she managed to live well

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: laughably, ridiculously, ludicrously

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree English preposterous Middle English -ly English -ly English preposterously From preposterous + -ly.