Synonyms of comical

comical

adjective

ˈkä-mi-kəl 

1

as in humorous

causing or intended to cause laughter

the comical antics of the circus clowns

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

2

as in ridiculous

so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter

the comical expression on his face when he realized that he had been swindled

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Recent Examples of comical

The drunkest of the three drunk ladies gives the historical cannon a kick, then does some comical hopping around, indicating, Ouch, my foot. — George Saunders, New Yorker, 18 Oct. 2026

Beneath the serious exchange of ideas there was romance as well—at times tragic and at other times comical. — Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026

Here, visitors make their way through an exhibition featuring waif Alberto Giacometti sculptures, a room full of Picassos, Fischli/Weiss’s comical sculpture Animal (1986), and more. — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 2026

With Apatow at the helm, the chat took some comical turns, as might be expected, and also some unusually revealing ones, as Apatow getting McCartney to loosen up provided some real personal asides as well as screwball dialogue. — Chris Willman, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026