Synonyms of ludicrous

ludicrous

adjective

ˈlü-də-krəs 

1

as in funny

causing or intended to cause laughter

the ludicrous sight of their teacher in a Halloween costume

Synonyms & Similar Words

• funny
• humorous
• comedic
• ridiculous
• amusing
• comical
• hysteric
• hysterical
• comic
• laughable
• entertaining
• hilarious
• farcical
• risible
• screaming
• riotous
• uproarious
• witty
• playful
• droll
• antic
• killing
• chucklesome
• sidesplitting
• humoristic
• zany
• clownish
• flippant
• slapstick
• merry
• facetious
• laughing
• diverting
• flip
• whimsical
• waggish
• jocular
• jokey
• jolly
• mad
• slapsticky
• wry
• gleeful
• rich
• campy
• priceless
• jovial
• smart
• smart-aleck
• knockabout
• mirthful
• pert
• joky
• jocose
• snickery
• smart-alecky
• jocund
• blithesome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lame
• serious
• unfunny
• humorless
• severe
• earnest
• tragic
• solemn
• sombre
• unamusing
• somber
• grave
• staid
• sober
• poignant
• unhumorous
• tragical
• weighty
• sedate
• unhysterical
• unsmiling
• sad
• moving
• uncomic
• touching
• affecting
• woeful
• no-nonsense
• mournful
• sorrowful
• sobersided
• tearful
• lachrymose

2

as in ridiculous

so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter

a ludicrous and easily detected attempt to forge his father's signature on a note to school

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ridiculous
• absurd
• silly
• pathetic
• foolish
• stupid
• unreasonable
• comical
• laughable
• fantastical
• preposterous
• farcical
• incredible
• irrational
• risible
• derisive
• dumb
• insane
• cockamamie
• derisory
• crazy
• fantastic
• idiotic
• for the birds
• inane
• asinine
• nonsensical
• cockamamy
• moronic
• fatuous
• mad
• imbecilic
• unwise
• unbelievable
• imbecile
• inconceivable
• unreal
• unrealistic
• lunatic
• illogical
• daft
• harebrained
• witless
• simpleminded
• loony
• wacky
• whacky
• nutty
• brainless
• jerky
• idiotical
• kooky
• senseless
• half-baked
• daffy
• cuckoo
• far-fetched
• looney
• screwball
• weak-minded
• half-witted
• dotty
• kookie
• cockeyed
• balmy

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• serious
• earnest
• solemn
• reasonable
• logical
• realistic
• conceivable
• rational
• credible
• sensible
• believable

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

Recent Examples of ludicrous

Since at least last May last year, Hazan has been working on a truly ludicrous project: packing a fire-breathing 3.5-liter Ferrari V8 engine from an F355 into a handmade motorcycle. —New Atlas, 7 Apr. 2025

Producers are charging north of nine hundred dollars for orchestra seats, the kind of ludicrous, norm-busting event pricing that somehow drives demand; the sidewalk outside buzzes with excitement. —Helen Shaw, New Yorker, 28 Mar. 2025

Apple cider vinegar gained the top spot in influencer fridges and the thought of shoving a pat of butter into your Americano suddenly seemed ludicrous. —Morgan Fargo, Vogue, 24 Mar. 2025

If the size of the problem is much bigger than the ones from the first season, so is the ludicrous scale of most of the solutions. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 15 Apr. 2025