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
• 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
• mad
• jolly
• slapsticky
• wry
• gleeful
• rich
• campy
• priceless
• jovial
• smart
• knockabout
• mirthful
• pert
• jocose
• smart-aleck
• snickery
• smart-alecky
• jocund
• blithesome

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• lame
• serious
• humorless
• severe
• earnest
• tragic
• solemn
• unfunny
• unamusing
• somber
• grave
• staid
• sober
• poignant
• unhumorous
• weighty
• unhysterical
• sedate
• 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
• stupid
• foolish
• unreasonable
• comical
• laughable
• preposterous
• farcical
• irrational
• dumb
• incredible
• risible
• derisive
• insane
• derisory
• crazy
• fantastic
• idiotic
• for the birds
• inane
• mad
• asinine
• nonsensical
• cockamamy
• moronic
• fatuous
• unwise
• unbelievable
• imbecile
• inconceivable
• unreal
• unrealistic
• loony
• illogical
• wacky
• harebrained
• witless
• simpleminded
• nutty
• kooky
• jerky
• brainless
• daffy
• cuckoo
• daft
• senseless
• half-baked
• far-fetched
• screwball
• weak-minded
• balmy
• half-witted
• dotty
• cockeyed

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

Yes, Missouri still played a tough schedule because of their conference games, but to act as though the Big Ten only won a National Championship because of non-conference schedules is ludicrous. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 July 2026

In this World Cup, referees have often stopped the match on multiple occasions to check VAR for offside, sometimes issuing rulings that fans and teams consider ludicrous. — Jasmine Garsd, NPR, 17 July 2026

Right now, that sky-high distribution reflects the portfolio’s ludicrous gains, but that hasn’t always been the case. — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026

After decades of calm, the old stories that seemed too ludicrous to be true start happening again. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 9 July 2026