Definition of risible
1a : capable of laughingb : disposed to laugh
2 : arousing or provoking laughter; especially : laughable
3 : associated with, relating to, or used in laughter risible muscles
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risible was our Word of the Day on 05/04/2014. Hear the podcast!
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Examples of risible in a Sentence
The suggestion was downright risible.
a risible comment that made the whole class laugh
Recent Examples of risible from the Web
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Two years ago, the notion that America's future, then a glowing path of endless prosperity, had anything in common with Japan's was risible.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'risible'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Did You Know?
If someone makes a ridiculous remark about your risible muscles, he or she is not necessarily deriding your physique. Risible can also mean "associated with laughter," so risible muscles can simply be the ones used for laughing. (You've also got a set of risorius muscles around your mouth that help you smile.) Next time you find something laughable, tip your hat to ridēre, the Latin verb meaning "to laugh" that gave us risible (and ridiculous and deride, by the way).
Origin and Etymology of risible
Late Latin risibilis, from Latin risus, past participle of ridēre to laugh
First Known Use: 1557
RISIBLE Defined for English Language Learners
risible
playDefinition of risible for English Language Learners
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: deserving to be laughed at : very silly or unreasonable
Learn More about risible
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See words that rhyme with risible Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for risible Spanish Central: Translation of risible
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