comic

adjective com·ic \ ˈkä-mik \

Definition of comic

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

See comic defined for English-language learners

See comic defined for kids

Examples of comic in a Sentence

The drama has some comic moments.
His comic timing is impeccable.
The scene was included for comic effect.

Recent Examples of comic from the Web

If left unchecked, Helms can slip into manic bouts of comic hysteria.

— rick bentley, chicagotribune.com, "'I Do ... Until I Don't' review: Lake Bell helms a sweet romance," 30 Aug. 2017
Seven years ago, I could not have dreamed of such an elevated role for a seemingly comic character who had made a mess of things.

— logan jenkins, sandiegouniontribune.com, "You'll have to pardon this view of Arpaio's comic career," 29 Aug. 2017
The most fascinating ones, like Jon Bernthal’s antiheroic Punisher, or David Tennant’s manipulative Kilgrave, have stepped outside of the comic-book realm to illuminate darker tendencies in the real world.

— sophie gilbert, The Atlantic, "The Defenders Proves Heroes Aren't Enough," 24 Aug. 2017
Annoying comic relief Victor all but disappears, and Felicie finds the best thing in the film: a hobbled but wise house cleaner named Odette (Carly Rae Jepsen).

— peter hartlaub, idahostatesman, "A flying leap into family film inconsistency," 24 Aug. 2017
Lewis, who was always quick to praise Martin’s comic timing and self-deprecating wit didn’t think of Martin as a straight man.

— gary susman, HWD, "Jerry Lewis, Comedic Force of Nature, Dies at 91," 20 Aug. 2017
Lewis plays a megalomaniac talk show host who’s full of bile and gets kidnapped by a comic (Robert De Niro) who wants a stint on his show.

— lawrence toppman, charlotteobserver, "Comic actor, tireless telethon host and needy performer Jerry Lewis dies at 91," 20 Aug. 2017
So here's a selection of music from the cosmic to the comic, starring everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Creedence Clearwater Revival to the leaders in celestial jams, Pink Floyd.

— jeffrey lee puckett, The Courier-Journal, "Bad Moon Rising: Here's your Spotify playlist for the 2017 solar eclipse," 17 Aug. 2017
That’s right, the folks in Hopkinsville are hosting their own Comic Con event complete with appearances by celebrities in the sci-fi, cartoon, comic and superhero genres.

— Southern Living, "The Total Solar Eclipse Is Coming! Let’s Party!," 17 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'comic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of comic

Latin comicus, from Greek kōmikos, from kōmos revel

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1567

See Words from the same year

comic Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

humorless, lame, unamusing, uncomic, unfunny, unhumorous, unhysterical

Related Words

amusing, diverting, entertaining; clownish, knockabout, slapstick, slapsticky, zany; facetious, flip, flippant, pert, smart, smart-aleck, smart-alecky, snickery; jocular, playful, waggish; campy, jokey (also joky); priceless, rich, whimsical, witty, wry; blithesome, gleeful, jocose, jocund, jolly, jovial, laughing, mad, merry, mirthful

Near Antonyms

earnest, grave, no-nonsense, sedate, serious, severe, sober, sobersided, solemn, somber (or sombre), staid, unsmiling, weighty; affecting, moving, poignant, touching, tragic (also tragical); lachrymose, mournful, sad, sorrowful, tearful, woeful

Synonym Discussion of 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

comic

noun

Definition of comic

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

See comic defined for English-language learners

Examples of comic in a Sentence

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 of comic from the Web

Once the route was securely in my family’s name, Janet wanted us to use our own place to stuff the comics and load them up.

— andrew bockhold, Longreads, "Wrapping the Sunday Paper For the Last Time," 25 Aug. 2017
The Gifted (Fox) Based on the X-Men comics, this series follows Stephen Moyer's Reed and Amy Acker's Caitlin as ordinary parents who discover their kids' mutant abilities.

— whitney friedlander, Esquire, "Fall TV Preview: Your Complete Guide to the Season's Premieres," 4 Aug. 2017
Telltale hasn't dished out many details, with most of the release focused on the success of the first game and of the Fables comics.

— hayden dingman, PCWorld, "Telltale reveals Wolf Among Us 2, a final Walking Dead season, and another Batman," 19 July 2017
Comic-Con International: San Diego is more than a place to spot celebrities, eye the latest merchandise, and mingle with fans of comics, video games, and movies.

— maureen robertson, Ramona Sentinel, "Comic-Con’s Ramona connection," 19 July 2017
For more visit bit.ly/2tFz0vS. Have some comics lying around?

— emily sorensen, Pomerado News, "Enjoy Comic-Con without a pass," 13 July 2017
Then his brother, a local stand-up comic who is a patient at Mandel’s clinic, suggested ketamine.

— rene chun, Los Angeles Magazine, "Inside the Los Angeles Clinic That Uses Ketamine to Treat Depression," 19 June 2017
Grossman's novel is about a failing standup comic and his final performance.

— Bloomberg.com, "Israel's David Grossman Wins International Booker Prize," 14 June 2017
Content here means offering music, gaming, entertainment and comics.

— WSJ, "What Tomorrow’s Messaging Apps Will Look Like," 13 June 2017

First Known Use of comic

1687

comic Synonyms

Synonyms

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

Antonyms

pathos

Related Words

comedienne, entertainer; banterer, cutup, kidder, knockabout, practical joker, prankster, quipper, quipster, teaser, wisecracker; buffoon, clown, fool, harlequin, zany; caricaturist, lampooner, parodist, satirist

Near Antonyms

agony, anguish, dolor, grief, heartache, heartbreak, misery, sorrow, torment, torture, tribulation, woe; gravity, seriousness, soberness, solemnity, solemnness, somberness

COMIC Defined for English Language Learners

comic

adjective

Definition of comic for English Language Learners

: of or relating to a comedy
: causing laughter or amusement

comic

noun

Definition of comic for English Language Learners

: a person who performs in front of an audience and makes people laugh by telling jokes or funny stories or by acting in a funny way
the comics : the comic strips in a newspaper : the part of a newspaper that has comic strips