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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 The second, a sideways pass hit behind Moises Caicedo that also fell for Eze in the 69th minute, set up a three-on-two break for Palace that Eze scuppered by immediately attempting a ludicrous shot from 40 yards. Liam Twomey, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2025 These accusations seem ludicrous, coming from an administration that fires federal workers for telling the truth, punishes news reporters and lawyers for doing their jobs and pardons MAGA thugs for attacking the U.S. Capitol. Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2025 Mayes’s office says Miller’s remarks are ‘ludicrous and devoid of facts’ When asked to comment on Miller’s letter, Mayes’s office issued an excoriating rebuke. Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 15 Aug. 2025 Things get positively ludicrous in Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, where nods for The Studio’s Bryan Cranston, Dave Franco, Ron Howard, Anthony Mackie, and Martin Scorsese playing versions of themselves account for five of six nominations. Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 9 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ludicrous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ludicrous
Adjective
  • Zambians are warm, funny, proud.
    Daniel Scheffler, Forbes.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Darkly funny and deeply melancholic, the film turns the family estate into a pressure cooker of grief, grudges and reluctant affection.
    Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The 2016 World Series champion walked in free agency that offseason to the Philadelphia Phillies where he's produced at a ridiculous level on a perennial National League contender.
    Tim Crowley, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Like his Washington, Bargatze’s Farnsworth regaled a trio of underlings (SNL cast members Bowen Yang, Mikey Day, and James Austin Johnson) with ridiculous yet accurate predictions for the future, in this case of TV.
    Judy Berman, Time, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • There are a lot of different kinds of reminiscing on here, humorous and serious.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 12 Sep. 2025
  • On stage, DeMarco projected a charismatic, likable and humorous persona that went beyond his simple attire of a baseball cap and a T-shirt.
    David Chiu, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • There’s no denying that catfish noodling is an absurd sport.
    Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Barely any other media in recent times has given me an instant shock of glee or revulsion like this absurd anarcho-cartoon being stretched and squeezed to its most grotesque and wholesome clickbait limits.
    Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Since 2022, Wysocki has established himself as social media’s favorite cast member on Make Some Noise, Dropout’s game show in which contestants are rewarded points for improvising scenes based on comedic prompts.
    Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
  • But only the older duo of the comedic TV trio made it to the Disney post-Emmys party at Los Angeles' Vibina restaurant.
    USA Today, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Mea Culpa is Perry at his most knowingly silly, and a throwback to erotic thrillers of decades past.
    Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Sep. 2025
  • For every community of mass-shooter fandoms, there is another that is silly, joyous, productive, or totally harmless.
    Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 12 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Hacking a pre-Internet console Making this amusing amalgam of past and present technology possible required some clever engineering.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 12 Sep. 2025
  • DeMarco was also entetaining with his amusing banter in between songs while encouraging his New York fans to clap and wave their arms.
    David Chiu, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The end of that era came slowly, through the pathetic collapse of Syria and Lebanon as functioning states, and then quickly, when Israel began touching Hezbollah in unexpected places.
    Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025
  • Want the poop on this pathetic history?
    Brian Domitrovic, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ludicrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ludicrous. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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