risible

adjective

ˈri-zə-bəl How to pronounce risible (audio)
Definition of risiblenext
1
as in funny
causing or intended to cause laughter a risible comment that made the whole class laugh

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ridiculous
so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter the idea that people are meant to have wings is risible

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 risible The public language may seem risible, but that is only a surface-level thing. — Nick Miller, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2026 The risible ending lets down both actors, each of whom give it their all (especially Glusman) while the screenplay feels like there are chunks of character motivations and development tossed into the trash. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 4 July 2025 Kagame’s claims that the FDLR poses a threat to Rwanda are similarly risible. — Michela Wrong, Foreign Affairs, 13 Apr. 2023 Some individual justices have attempted to do so, but their explanations are often risible. — Ian Millhiser, Vox, 7 Dec. 2018 See All Example Sentences for risible
Recent Examples of Synonyms for risible
  1. funny
  2. ridiculous
  3. humorous
  4. absurd
  5. comedic
  6. silly
  7. amusing
  8. pathetic
Adjective
  • Gu-cheon is arrogant, conspicuously misplaced in the palace hierarchy, and in some sneaky ways, dryly funny, in stark contrast to co-star Roh Yoon Seo’s more determined, earnest portrayal of court lady Saeng Gang.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • That ethos bled into the script read, which saw the crew assembled take swings with the material and inject a bit more comedy into the already funny original film.
    — Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 29 July 2026
Definition of funny
Adjective
  • That was, frankly, ridiculous, and our coverage said as much, arguing that this deep dive into one of Hollywood’s most notorious genre disasters deserved a much wider release.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 30 July 2026
  • Its predecessor, No Way Home, mixed up good and bad guys from three different iterations of the Spider-Man franchise for a ridiculous phantasmagoria of clanging action figures.
    — David Sims, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026
Definition of ridiculous
Adjective
  • In one of the most humorous scenes in Season 2, episode 6, of The White Lotus, the Di Grasso family returns to Italy to reconnect with their roots.
    — Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026
  • The first day used to be so chaotic and humorous in the old days, with players not knowing how to put on helmets let alone figure out shoulder pads and struggling in line drills.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 26 July 2026
Definition of humorous
Adjective
  • Open the requisition on a Monday and the number is already absurd.
    — Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 29 July 2026
  • Their air of slightly absurd quasi-spontaneity is nicely amplified by the jittery yet unobtrusive rhythms of the direction and Yost’s editing.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 28 July 2026
Definition of absurd
Adjective
  • The series continues its winning blend of high-octane action choreography and comedic friction between elite wealth and police bureaucracy.
    — Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 2026
  • The actor used his newfound clout to make 2006’s Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny, a movie based on his comedic two-man rock outfit with Kyle Gass.
    — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 31 July 2026
Definition of comedic
Adjective
  • Kind of a silly riddle, but what’s life if not a little silly.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 30 July 2026
  • Ranking titanic figures from different eras might be a fruitless and silly exercise to some, but this type of debate is also the one thing sports is supposed to be.
    — Ian O'Connor, New York Times, 30 July 2026
Definition of silly
Adjective
  • The wonky physics can't be too wonky, because janky controls can go from amusing to annoying pretty quickly.
    — Jason Bennett, Arkansas Online, 19 July 2026
  • There’s also plenty of family time captured, including an amusing bye week trip to Manhattan — complete with a subway trip — to watch two of Emily’s brothers run the New York Marathon.
    — John Romano, The Orlando Sentinel, 19 July 2026
Definition of amusing
Adjective
  • Despite the Warriors operating with a pathetic sense of self-mortification — bending over backward for the mere possibility the King might grace them with his presence — the power of friendship wasn’t enough to lure James to the Bay.
    — Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 July 2026
  • Instagram Plus is social media’s newest low—a company preying on our most pathetic impulses, for the price of a small iced coffee.
    — Annie Joy Williams, The Atlantic, 28 June 2026
Definition of pathetic

Browse Nearby Words

rise (to)
risible
rising
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Cite this Entry

“Risible.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/risible. Accessed 4 Aug. 2026.

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