hilarious

adjective

hi·​lar·​i·​ous hi-ˈler-ē-əs 

hī-

: marked by or causing hilarity : extremely funny

hilariously adverb

hilariousness noun

Synonyms of hilarious

• funny
• humorous
• comedic
• amusing
• comical
• ridiculous
• comic
• hysterical

Examples of hilarious in a Sentence

Raymond is different, so well written and acted, so perfectly pitched, that even the silences, especially the silences, are hilarious. It makes comedy look easy. —James Morris, Wilson Quarterly, Autumn 2005

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Tim Burton's adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved (by children) and reviled (by critics and librarians) book, is quirky, well acted, often hilarious, and visually sumptuous, but don't go to it expecting sweetness in anything except the title. —Richard Alleva, Commonweal, 12 Aug. 2005

In fairness, McEnroe does have genuine passion for the game, and his willingness to take on the sport's sacred cows is admirable. His candor and hilarious random ruminations as an analyst make even the most lopsided matches worth watching. —Jon Wertheim, Sports Illustrated, 17 Sept. 2001

Since his material is genuinely funny, at times hilarious, it makes for a smashing use of audio as a unique entertainment medium. Sedaris has an unexpectedly high-pitched voice that comes across as majorly mischievous in its delivery … —Publishers Weekly, 5 May 1997

Some people don't like his comedy, but I think he's hilarious.

She gave us a hilarious account of her first days as a teacher.

Recent Examples on the Web

The ballet became a hilarious parody of Wagnerian cliches as a cartwheeling child wearing sneakers with rainbow lights and dressed in gold, resembling statues of the composer, presided in front of a faux Bayreuth proscenium. — ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026

His scenes with his younger co-stars, Macaulay Culkin and Gaby Hoffmann, are hilarious, and go a long way toward illustrating why Culkin would soon become one of the era’s biggest child actors. — Al Shipley, SPIN, 4 Aug. 2026

Jackson replaced Gosling with Mark Wahlberg, an actor who is famously ripped and, as some critics would say, miscast in the film — which makes Jackson’s perspective on the situation kind of hilarious. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Aug. 2026

Claire Carusillo’s debut novel is intelligent, often hilarious, and teeming with stories and backstories. — Jasmine Vojdani, Vulture, 4 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

irregular from Latin hilarus, hilaris cheerful, from Greek hilaros

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hilarious

• aquarius
• cinereous
• gregarious
• malarious
• nefarious
• precarious
• vicarious
• carious
• scarious
• various
• multifarious

Kids Definition

hilarious

adjective

hi·​lar·​i·​ous hil-ˈar-ē-əs 

-ˈer-;

hī-ˈlar-, 

-ˈler-

: causing hilarity : wildly funny

hilariously adverb

hilariousness noun