1
as in surreal
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2
as in incomprehensible
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Recent Examples of Kafkaesque
To be fair, dealing with any healthcare bureaucracy in America is sure to be frustrating and annoying, and will most likely turn into a Kafkaesque nightmare.
—
Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 27 June 2025
Among its recent publications is Kheir’s Kafkaesque novel about an Egyptian man released from prison after serving a seven-year sentence who tries to get his old job as a translator back.
—Michael Schaub, Oc Register, 25 June 2025
Obtaining a permit to fly a drone in Nepal as a foreigner was a somewhat Kafkaesque exercise in patience.
—Ben Ayers, Outside Online, 6 May 2025
These are intentional Kafkaesque problems that the Trump Administration is creating.
—Grace Byron, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2025
No one wants to have their family vacation turned into some Kafkaesque nightmare at the hands of ICE agents emboldened by the country's general climate of incipient fascism.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
That standard was used to suppress the speech of faculty, such as Northwestern professor Laura Kipnis, who in a Kafkaesque turn was the subject of a legal complaint by students under Title IX for writing an op-ed column criticizing the Obama view of Title IX.
—The Editors, National Review, 16 Apr. 2025
In a particularly Kafkaesque explanation for why some of the Venezuelan migrants who have no criminal records were targeted for arrest and deportation, government lawyers argued in court that their lack of a criminal record is in itself cause for concern.
—Nisha Whitehead, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2025
But Ned was declared dead last month by the Social Security Administration, which led him and his wife on a Kafkaesque quest to prove there’s life left in this salty old Seattle seadog yet.
—Matthew J. Friedman, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
Emily Cegielski, Flow Space, 27 June 2025
Among its recent publications is Kheir’s Kafkaesque novel about an Egyptian man released from prison after serving a seven-year sentence who tries to get his old job as a translator back.
—Michael Schaub, Oc Register, 25 June 2025
Obtaining a permit to fly a drone in Nepal as a foreigner was a somewhat Kafkaesque exercise in patience.
—Ben Ayers, Outside Online, 6 May 2025
These are intentional Kafkaesque problems that the Trump Administration is creating.
—Grace Byron, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2025
No one wants to have their family vacation turned into some Kafkaesque nightmare at the hands of ICE agents emboldened by the country's general climate of incipient fascism.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025
That standard was used to suppress the speech of faculty, such as Northwestern professor Laura Kipnis, who in a Kafkaesque turn was the subject of a legal complaint by students under Title IX for writing an op-ed column criticizing the Obama view of Title IX.
—The Editors, National Review, 16 Apr. 2025
In a particularly Kafkaesque explanation for why some of the Venezuelan migrants who have no criminal records were targeted for arrest and deportation, government lawyers argued in court that their lack of a criminal record is in itself cause for concern.
—Nisha Whitehead, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2025
But Ned was declared dead last month by the Social Security Administration, which led him and his wife on a Kafkaesque quest to prove there’s life left in this salty old Seattle seadog yet.
—Matthew J. Friedman, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for Kafkaesque
Adjective
-
Naomi Watts broke out with a surreal leading turn in David Lynch's Mulholland Drive (2001).—
EW.com,
EW.com,
11 July 2025
-
The fallout was immediate, surreal, and more than a little revealing.—
Jesse Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 July 2025
Adjective
-
Alex Hartman runs the meme page Nolita Dirtbag on Instagram, and tells Rolling Stone the nervous emotions around Mamdani’s win could be in part because of how utterly incomprehensible or cruel many of the Trump administration decisions seem to be.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
26 June 2025
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In a brittle, anxious, nonlinear, incomprehensible (BANI) world where change is the only constant, the leadership traits that once earned respect—tenacity, decisiveness and stoicism—are no longer enough.—
Arthi Rabikrisson,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
Adjective
-
Although Usonian in design, this house has an unusual hexagonal structure.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
14 July 2025
-
The result is an unusual savory drink that is light and crisp.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
14 July 2025
Adjective
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His sudden, inexplicable death was a 9-year-old’s introduction to the concept of impermanence.—
James Rainey
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
8 July 2025
-
The day after Hank’s admission, Kay and her husband, Ross, explained to George about the baby’s difficulty with breastfeeding, his inexplicable pain and his inability to tolerate formula.—
Jessica Lussenhop,
ProPublica,
30 June 2025
Adjective
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So watch for seemingly irrational behavior and erratic tactical moves, as leadership is unafraid to confuse customers and take outsized capital risks.—
Forrester,
Forbes.com,
2 July 2025
-
As Reva relates the stories of her three main characters—including one whose true passion is snail conservation—her novel hums with bruised faith in the irrational power of hope, whether for peace, love, endangered species, or familial reconciliation.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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Future threats to Uruguayan waterfowl conservation notwithstanding, for our group of American bird hunters, another clear-cool afternoon proves ideal to visit the edge of a grove of eucalyptus, a favorite roost for nearly unfathomable numbers of doves.—
Chris Dorsey,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
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Here are the four teams that did the unfathomable and won on the road: Cavs over Warriors (2016): LeBron James had The Block, Kyrie Irving hit that go-ahead shot and Kevin Love had The Stop in a 93-89 win.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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The android, played by Alexander Skarsgård, is often fed up with humans and their illogical, self-defeating choices.—
Omar L. Gallaga,
Los Angeles Times,
11 July 2025
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As presented in the Gang's illogical scapegoating, fearmongering, and overall manipulative self-exoneration, the debate turned into a farce.—
Dennis Perkins,
EW.com,
10 July 2025
Adjective
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As satire, Next to Heaven is unintelligible, as though someone is universalizing their own hangups and then skewering them for clout.—
Book Marks
June 20,
Literary Hub,
20 June 2025
-
Filled with uncanny creatures and unintelligible language, the book's inspiration came, Serafini muses, either from aliens, or his cat.—
David Morgan,
CBS News,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Kafkaesque.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/Kafkaesque. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.
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