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Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective ridiculous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ridiculous are comical, comic, laughable, and ludicrous. While all these words mean "provoking laughter or mirth," ridiculous suggests extreme absurdity, foolishness, or contemptibility.

a ridiculous display of anger

When is comic a more appropriate choice than ridiculous?

The meanings of comic and ridiculous largely overlap; however, comic applies especially to what arouses thoughtful amusement.

a comic character

When is it sensible to use comical instead of ridiculous?

The synonyms comical and ridiculous are sometimes interchangeable, but comical applies to what arouses spontaneous hilarity.

a comical hat

When can laughable be used instead of ridiculous?

In some situations, the words laughable and ridiculous are roughly equivalent. However, laughable applies to anything occasioning laughter.

laughable attempts at skating

When would ludicrous be a good substitute for ridiculous?

Although the words ludicrous and ridiculous have much in common, ludicrous suggests absurdity that excites both laughter and scorn.

a thriller with a ludicrous plot

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 ridiculous The idea that an entire team of Nintendo developers working for years to make GOTY winner Breath of the Wild could be replaced by a tiny team using AI sounds ridiculous on its face. Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 5 June 2025 The following list is by no means exhaustive of this administration's horrendous policies and ridiculous conduct. Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025 If that all sounds a little ridiculous to you, that’s the point. Elise Taylor, Vogue, 3 June 2025 Last season, on Ohio State’s national championship-winning team, the Freshman All-American caught 76 passes for a ridiculous 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns. Grace Raynor, New York Times, 2 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for ridiculous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ridiculous
Adjective
  • There’s the undercurrent of politics stirring animus between the neighbors, with Canadians angered by President Donald Trump’s tariffs and his absurd aside saying perhaps Canada should be the 51st U.S. state.
    Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 5 June 2025
  • The concept itself is absurd, given the modest park features.
    The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • Ramsey’s memoir is a moving, sometimes funny story about destruction, change and rebirth, told by a woman tempered by fire.
    Laurie Hertzel, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2025
  • Roman is my kind of Virgil—chatty, funny, forgiving, sharp.
    Marina Harss, New Yorker, 13 June 2025
Adjective
  • Alas, during one night siege (silly enough to not scare the little ones, even as the entire village repeatedly goes up in flames), Hiccup aims his weapon at the shape of a Night Fury (no one, we’re told repeatedly, as ever really seen one), shoots, and … what!
    Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 9 June 2025
  • Still, sometimes Forrest’s demands seemed nitpicky, silly even.
    Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2025
Adjective
  • In his feature debut, Dupont follows the two men with a sense of empathetic detachment and an appreciation for fine detail and humorous dialogue.
    Leo Barraclough, Variety, 3 June 2025
  • Popular posts might feature a photo with a humorous caption, an anonymous confession, or a detailed technical answer to a complex question.
    Dan Cody Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 June 2025
Adjective
  • Anyone who tells you different is a liar (and pathetic, and alone in life).
    Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 30 May 2025
  • The politicized fantasy and horror films by Ryan Coogler and Jordan Peele are merely pathetic.
    Armond White, National Review, 23 May 2025
Adjective
  • Director Kingsley described how the project evolved from its comedic roots.
    Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 June 2025
  • There was rain, lightning and some comedic reactions for the strange June weather Tuesday that disrupted the opening day of the Southern California regional baseball and softball playoffs.
    Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • The post prompted a chorus of amusing responses from commenters.
    Toria Sheffield, People.com, 7 June 2025
  • Instruct large language model for a quick, amusing tutorial on how to solve a Rubik’s Cube.
    Dave Altavilla, Forbes.com, 4 June 2025
Adjective
  • The unintentionally comical effect of that interview created an impression of a young player whose head was tethered to his shoulders with less than customary tightness.
    Tom Williams, New York Times, 30 May 2025
  • The Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region's case of mistaken identity inspired numerous comical comments on Facebook.
    Kelli Bender, People.com, 27 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Ridiculous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ridiculous. Accessed 16 Jun. 2025.

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