comic

1 of 2

adjective

com·​ic ˈkä-mik 

1

: of, relating to, or marked by comedy

a comic actor

2

: causing laughter or amusement : funny

a comic monologue

3

: of or relating to comic strips

the newspaper's comic section

comic

2 of 2

noun

1

: comedian

a stand-up comic

2

: the comic element

3

a

: comic strip

b

: comic book

c

comics plural : the part of a newspaper devoted to comic strips

Synonyms

Adjective

• antic
• chucklesome
• comedic
• comical
• droll
• farcical
• funny
• hilarious
• humoristic
• humorous
• hysterical
• hysteric
• killing
• laughable
• ludicrous
• ridiculous
• riotous
• risible
• screaming
• sidesplitting
• uproarious

Noun

• card
• comedian
• droll
• farceur
• funnyman
• gagger
• gagman
• gagster
• humorist
• jester
• joker
• jokester
• wag
• wit

Choose the Right Synonym for comic

laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous, comic, comical mean provoking laughter or mirth.

laughable applies to anything occasioning laughter.

laughable attempts at skating

ludicrous suggests absurdity that excites both laughter and scorn.

a thriller with a ludicrous plot

ridiculous suggests extreme absurdity, foolishness, or contemptibility.

a ridiculous display of anger

comic applies especially to what arouses thoughtful amusement.

a comic character

comical applies to what arouses spontaneous hilarity.

a comical hat

Examples of comic in a Sentence

Adjective

The drama has some comic moments.

His comic timing is impeccable.

The scene was included for comic effect.

Noun

posted an especially funny comic by the watercooler

a celebrated humorist who, without fail, could find the comic in even the most mundane of situations

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Residents of original Beetlejuice town met Jenna Ortega with their old memorabilia (exclusive) 01 of 08 Michael Keaton as Beetlejuice Michael Keaton returns as the titular undead conman with unimaginable powers of comic mastery. —Rendy Jones, EW.com, 6 Sep. 2024

The tense thriller with comic overtones marks Horn’s first effort in the director’s chair after breaking out as the Deer Lady on FX’s Reservation Dogs and Tanis on Hulu’s Letterkenny. —Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Sep. 2024

Noun

There’s an aspiring comic and his buddy, who can’t quite make the leap to the bigger-time clubs up north, a Zen-like storm chaser and public pool caretakers. —Carole Horst, Variety, 2 Sep. 2024

The duo is teaming for FML, an eight-issue comic from Dark Horse due out in November. —Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Latin comicus, from Greek kōmikos, from kōmos revel

First Known Use

Adjective

1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1687, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Phrases Containing comic

• comic book
• comic opera
• comic relief
• comic strip

Kids Definition

comic

1 of 2 adjective

com·​ic ˈkäm-ik 

1

: of or relating to comedy

a comic actor

2

: causing laughter or amusement : funny

3

: of or relating to comic strips

comic

2 of 2 noun

1

: comedian sense 2

2

a

: comic strip

b

plural : the part of a newspaper devoted to comic strips