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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective ludicrous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ludicrous are comical, comic, laughable, and ridiculous. While all these words mean "provoking laughter or mirth," ludicrous suggests absurdity that excites both laughter and scorn.

a thriller with a ludicrous plot

When can comic be used instead of ludicrous?

While the synonyms comic and ludicrous are close in meaning, comic applies especially to what arouses thoughtful amusement.

a comic character

Where would comical be a reasonable alternative to ludicrous?

In some situations, the words comical and ludicrous are roughly equivalent. However, comical applies to what arouses spontaneous hilarity.

a comical hat

When is laughable a more appropriate choice than ludicrous?

The meanings of laughable and ludicrous largely overlap; however, laughable applies to anything occasioning laughter.

laughable attempts at skating

When could ridiculous be used to replace ludicrous?

The synonyms ridiculous and ludicrous are sometimes interchangeable, but ridiculous suggests extreme absurdity, foolishness, or contemptibility.

a ridiculous display of anger

Example 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 ludicrous After everything else the bawdy, tawdry, and perfectly ludicrous The Hunting Wives serves up in its first season, the series’s final act is an embarrassment of riches. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 22 July 2025 Any notion of the United States not landing on AGI and ASI before any other country would seem utterly ludicrous and summarily rejected. Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025 But the Dead’s wall was essentially a behemoth sound system, a hulking electrical mess of amps, speakers, wires—like the menacing heavy-metal rig in Mad Max: Fury Road, but far larger, louder, and, perhaps, more ludicrous. John Hendrickson, The Atlantic, 10 July 2025 Yes, studio horror often requires a certain level of playfulness — how else to sell all those poor character decisions, all that unnecessary gore, all those ludicrous twists — but the ones that work still have something true at their core, something that sticks in your mind. Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 16 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for ludicrous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ludicrous
Adjective
  • Adam Johnson, The Orphan Master’s Son Set in contemporary North Korea, this epic, harrowing, and darkly funny novel follows a man caught in a totalitarian machine.
    Mark Nevins, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
  • Charlie Brown has evolved into something nicer In those days, Charles M. Schulz’s comic and its characters were meaner, the humor darker (and, frankly, funnier).
    Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The video wraps with a ridiculous post-credits scene from the wedding reception, featuring Sheeran in a full wedding dress, totally committed to the waltz choreography.
    Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2025
  • These movies are brilliantly written, but above all will do anything to get a laugh, no matter how silly, how absurd, how ridiculous — how stupid.
    Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Donkey provided comic relief, pathos and friendship to Shrek, with the film praised for its humorous twist on fairy-tale tropes.
    Aaron Couch, HollywoodReporter, 11 Aug. 2025
  • This humorous and heartfelt novel traces a decade in the couple’s life together — and Coralie’s own journey toward self-discovery.
    Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Interestingly, the Vance memes were far more surreal and absurd than South Park’s caricature, which retained the simple, bloated design of the first few images.
    Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • These movies are brilliantly written, but above all will do anything to get a laugh, no matter how silly, how absurd, how ridiculous — how stupid.
    Bill Goodykoontz, AZCentral.com, 7 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Is known for a feverish delivery and inventive comedic song titles like the ones that permeate his latest project, WHO WATERS THE WILTING GIVING TREE ONCE THE LEAVES DRY UP AND FRUITS NO LONGER BEAR?
    Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 6 Aug. 2025
  • Other comedic categories include Best Beverage, Filet Mignon Award for Best Beef, Canadian Award for Canadian Delicacy, Worst Sticky Feeling and more.
    Danielle Directo-Meston, HollywoodReporter, 5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • Similar to the first film, families will enjoy silly slapstick mixed with great chemistry between Lohan and Curtis, who are just as good together.
    Katie Grant, Parents, 7 Aug. 2025
  • In one silly snap, Cannon could be seen wearing a red sweatsuit and posing with four of his kids.
    Hannah Sacks, People.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • More Getty Images What made his Saturday round at Sedgefield Country Club more amusing was the birdie surge.
    Devlina Sarkar, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Aug. 2025
  • Also, the British themselves are generally strange and amusing.
    Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 29 July 2025
Adjective
  • Cowardly, unaccountable, pathetic: How much more does anyone really need to know about the incompetence of the Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System than something that was reported a week ago?
    Chris Powell, Hartford Courant, 4 Aug. 2025
  • Even by his standards, Trump’s effort to find a scapegoat was pretty pathetic.
    John Cassidy, New Yorker, 1 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ludicrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ludicrous. Accessed 19 Aug. 2025.

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