Yes, it's a modern English word. No, it isn't used very often. Although it is part of current English, it has a high "register;" it sounds formal and "literary."
As a check on current degree of usage, I like to do searches on Google News, because newspaper are written in good English, but are not trying to use language in a sophisticated or eloquent way. I quickly find these. (Significantly, I found a number of them in sports reporting.)
"Trump's preposterous bin Laden comments"
"Tom Kuhnhackl scored a preposterous goal backhand goal while flat on his back. Uh, well, this was insanely lucky."
"Gwyneth Paltrow’s preposterous gift for that tricky-to-buy-for person"