Definition of comicalnext
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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective comical differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of comical are comic, laughable, ludicrous, and ridiculous. While all these words mean "provoking laughter or mirth," comical applies to what arouses spontaneous hilarity.

a comical hat

When is comic a more appropriate choice than comical?

Although the words comic and comical have much in common, comic applies especially to what arouses thoughtful amusement.

a comic character

When would laughable be a good substitute for comical?

The words laughable and comical are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, laughable applies to anything occasioning laughter.

laughable attempts at skating

When is it sensible to use ludicrous instead of comical?

While in some cases nearly identical to comical, ludicrous suggests absurdity that excites both laughter and scorn.

a thriller with a ludicrous plot

In what contexts can ridiculous take the place of comical?

The synonyms ridiculous and comical 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 comical On Saturday, the singer and comedian had published a comical video where Tree was seen playing soccer in a Brazilian neighborhood. ABC News, 15 June 2026 The content creator has garnered over 2 million followers across platforms by posting comical skits about the workplace, framing office culture as relatable and all too accurate. Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026 The anxiety beforehand now seems almost comical. Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 June 2026 At times comical, each of these stories swerves and plunges deep into dark truths of human nature. Literary Hub, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for comical
Recent Examples of Synonyms for comical
Adjective
  • His after-game interviews were always intelligent and sometimes humorous.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026
  • The original intent was to show female athletes standing strong against unsportsmanlike conduct in a humorous way … nothing more.
    Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 July 2026
Adjective
  • Houssem Aouar finally spied a gap in the Austrian defence and sent Mahrez through to score, sparking jubilation before Sasa Kalajdzic’s header confirmed a ridiculous ending to a game that was dramatic, bleak and then dramatic again.
    Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • This laptop can absolutely handle a ridiculous number of tabs.
    Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 4 July 2026
Adjective
  • Ray had a somewhat comedic moment in the bottom of the first, taking a spill after tagging first base when recording a 3-1 putout.
    Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 5 July 2026
  • Sandler's participation in the newlyweds' wedding ceremony comes nearly a year after the comedic actor co-starred in Happy Gilmore 2 with Kelce, who had a cameo in the sequel film.
    Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 4 July 2026
Adjective
  • Space startup activity has been growing for years, with new companies hitting unicorn valuations at a pace that would have seemed absurd five years ago.
    Charlotte Kiang, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026
  • That the Fendons don’t think to immediately tell their devastated adult son, Harry (Craig Roberts), that his dad is still alive is only the first delightfully absurd wrinkle in this mischievous black comedy.
    Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026
Adjective
  • The obligatory army of A-list funny people (Jerry Seinfeld, Adam Sandler, Sarah Silverman, Dave Chappelle operating at minimal annoyingness) assembles to praise him in this two-part doc from directors Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio.
    Judy Berman, Time, 8 July 2026
  • The spunky comedy streaming service couldn’t hit the mainstream enough to attract voters, despite some very funny programming.
    William Earl, Variety, 8 July 2026
Adjective
  • Sevigny holds firm to Tatum’s hard-to-love jerkishness, which helps smooth over the serious arguments that can turn inadvertently silly (and amplifies the purely silly ones).
    Ben Travers, IndieWire, 9 July 2026
  • The post also included a sweet selfie with her two younger sons, with Mateo smiling widely and Ciro making a silly face for the camera.
    Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 8 July 2026
Adjective
  • Also, the booing of every single hydration break has been surprisingly amusing every single time.
    Phil Hay, New York Times, 4 July 2026
  • Joel David Smallbone is briefly amusing as a cranky aristocrat and the rest of the cast does what they are expected to do.
    Pete Hammond, Deadline, 1 July 2026
Adjective
  • Never in my lifetime has pathetic nostalgia for the white man’s republic been closer to the center of power.
    Brian DeLay, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
  • Instagram Plus is social media’s newest low—a company preying on our most pathetic impulses, for the price of a small iced coffee.
    Annie Joy Williams, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Comical.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/comical. Accessed 11 Jul. 2026.

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