comical

adjective

com·​i·​cal ˈkä-mi-kəl 

1

obsolete : of or relating to comedy

2

: causing laughter especially because of a startlingly or unexpectedly humorous impact

wearing a comical expression

comicality

ˌkä-mi-ˈka-lə-tē 

noun

comically

ˈkä-mi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

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

Choose the Right Synonym for comical

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 comical in a Sentence

I must have looked comical in that big hat.

The way they argue is almost comical.

Recent Examples on the Web

And the confusion caused by a talking horse (mirroring the Francis the Talking Mule film series), and the comical situations Ed got Wilbur into was the basis behind the Mister Ed sitcom, which was introduced in first-run syndication on January 5, 1961. —Marc Berman, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025

English football in 2024 served up a bit of everything: stunning strikes, comical own goals, baffling errors, refereeing controversies, promotions, relegations, trophies lifted, CVs sifted and much more besides. —Anantaajith Raghuraman, The Athletic, 31 Dec. 2024

Viewers can expect lots of comical commentary from the two best friends, as well as appearances by Sting, Meghan Trainor and Shania Twain. —Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 31 Dec. 2024

The comical basketball geniuses, The Harlem Globetrotters, have ways of getting the ball through the hoop that probably never occurred to you. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 21 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

comical

adjective

com·​i·​cal ˈkäm-i-kəl 

: laughable, funny

comically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb