RIDICULOUS Synonyms: 158 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'ridiculous' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ridiculous are comical , comic , laughable , and ludicrous . While all these words mean "provoking laughter or mirth," ridiculous suggests extreme absurdity, foolishness, or contemptibility. // a ridiculous display of anger

Q: When is 'comic' a more appropriate choice than 'ridiculous'?

The meanings of comic and ridiculous largely overlap; however, comic applies especially to what arouses thoughtful amusement. // a comic character

Q: When is it sensible to use 'comical' instead of 'ridiculous'?

The synonyms comical and ridiculous are sometimes interchangeable, but comical applies to what arouses spontaneous hilarity. // a comical hat

Q: When can 'laughable' be used instead of 'ridiculous'?

In some situations, the words laughable and ridiculous are roughly equivalent. However, laughable applies to anything occasioning laughter. // laughable attempts at skating

Q: When would 'ludicrous' be a good substitute for 'ridiculous'?

Although the words ludicrous and ridiculous have much in common, ludicrous suggests absurdity that excites both laughter and scorn. // a thriller with a ludicrous plot

ridiculous

adjective

rə-ˈdi-kyə-ləs

Definition of ridiculous next

as in absurd

so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter a movie thriller with such a ridiculous plot that it gets only guffaws from audiences

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in funny

causing or intended to cause laughter a movie comedian who has perfected the ridiculous pratfall

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective ridiculous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ridiculous are comical, comic, laughable, and ludicrous. While all these words mean "provoking laughter or mirth," ridiculous suggests extreme absurdity, foolishness, or contemptibility.

a ridiculous display of anger

When is comic a more appropriate choice than ridiculous?

The meanings of comic and ridiculous largely overlap; however, comic applies especially to what arouses thoughtful amusement.

a comic character

When is it sensible to use comical instead of ridiculous?

The synonyms comical and ridiculous are sometimes interchangeable, but comical applies to what arouses spontaneous hilarity.

a comical hat

When can laughable be used instead of ridiculous?

In some situations, the words laughable and ridiculous are roughly equivalent. However, laughable applies to anything occasioning laughter.

laughable attempts at skating

When would ludicrous be a good substitute for ridiculous?

Although the words ludicrous and ridiculous have much in common, ludicrous suggests absurdity that excites both laughter and scorn.

a thriller with a ludicrous plot

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of ridiculous And what his guys did to Sacramento from behind the arc in the first half was ridiculous. —

C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 25 Nov. 2024 Minnesota equalized in the sixth minute on a ridiculous goal by Kelvin Yeboah, who hit a screamer into the upper corner. —

Paul Tenorio, The Athletic, 24 Nov. 2024 Read More: Your Cynicism Isn’t Helping Anybody Optimism—the idea that things will turn out well—could feel ridiculous with all that’s happening. —

Jamil Zaki, TIME, 23 Nov. 2024 Art like Comedian acts as a reflection of society’s values, simultaneously serious and ridiculous. —

Natalie Stoclet, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ridiculous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ridiculous

Adjective

Wagner clearly states that much of his online comedy is about making funny videos and photos that include absurd, and very much fake, news stories, neighborhood flyers, music, and in this case a movie.

Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
The retort there is that if the marketplace sees the position as absurd or grossly premature, the potential reputational harm to the firm might not be worth the endeavor.

Lance Eliot, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024