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

There was a time when the idea of Perkins being a sixth-round pick would have seemed ludicrous. —Josh Kendall, New York Times, 25 Apr. 2026

As anachronisms constantly threaten to puncture the illusion, the cast stays wry, nimble and self-conscious in order to locate plot points and jokes that reinforce the golden-age radio setting, scribbling notes and introducing characters that propel them through ludicrous narrative arcs. —John Wenzel, Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2026

The old argument that someone needs a term in office to understand their job is ludicrous. —Kristine Alessio, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026

Trading Brandon Aiyuk seems even more ludicrous, as if any team will yield a late-round pick to obtain a still-pricey wide receiver who vanished since an October 2024 knee catastrophe. —Cam Inman, Mercury News, 14 Apr. 2026