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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

Examples of ludicrous in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Perhaps the most ludicrous part of the Sentinel program is that the US doesn’t need ICBMs at all. —Matthew Gault, WIRED, 22 July 2024

But the idea that any Tesla owner would be able to push a button and send their driverless vehicle out into the world to start collecting passive income as a robotaxi anytime soon is ludicrous. —Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 3 Sep. 2024

Abedi killed 23 people, but Shyamalan takes a slam at the suburban nuclear family through Harnett’s criminally insane patriarch — an early plot giveaway, saving a later, ludicrous Shyamalan trick ending. —Armond White, National Review, 14 Aug. 2024

Not only can Petro not bring himself to say publicly that Maduro’s victory claim is ludicrous; last week, Colombia abstained from an Organization of American States vote on whether to demand Maduro publish the July 28 vote tally — which Maduro disgracefully refuses to do. —Tim Padgett, Sun Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2024