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ridiculous

ridiculous

1.6
Very silly or unreasonable in a way that makes people laugh
  • adjective
  • /rɪˈdɪkjələs/
translation icon : ridículo
  • That idea seems so ridiculous that everyone laughed at it.
  • look ridiculous
  • seem ridiculous
  • sound ridiculous

It's just already like feels ridiculous in the best way.

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Examples

  • Many of these are ridiculous from the standpoint of what is possible.

    Academic text (2012)
  • Your behavior with that boy tonight was ridiculous.

  • Oh my God, that looks like the most ridiculous thing ever.

  • This is almost ridiculous how small these fish are.

  • Writing a book is a ridiculous amount of work.

  • And that is really a ridiculous amount of weight.

  • Well, when you put it like that, it sounds ridiculous!

  • Oh, that is the most ridiculous thing I've ever seen.

  • That seems so ridiculous that it has to be somewhat true.

  • It sounds ridiculous, but that's what I do.

Synonyms

silly
vsridiculous
976 1.0

Not sensible and often a little foolish

is stronger, implying such extreme unreason that it merits mockery
unbelievable
vsridiculous
432 4.9

Very surprising and almost impossible to accept as true

is more about provoking mockery and laughter than mere improbability
absurd
vsridiculous
288 4.4

So silly or unreasonable that it makes no sense

is more about provoking ridicule and comic reaction than only illogic
goofy
vsridiculous
  • Informal
129 3.5

Silly in a funny, slightly foolish way

is harsher, stressing stronger ridicule and serious absurdity
idiotic
vsridiculous
  • Offensive
115 4.4

Very silly and showing bad judgment

is broader, covering absurdity that causes ridicule beyond bad judgment
ludicrous
vsridiculous
100 6.0

Very silly and unreasonable so it makes people laugh

is the same extreme unreason but emphasizes being laugh‑worthy
outrageous
vsridiculous
98 4.2

Too high to be fair or reasonable

is centered on causing mockery by being extremely unreasonable rather than shock
preposterous
vsridiculous
72 7.3

Very silly and unreasonable so it seems laughable

is extreme silliness focused on provoking mockery rather than mere unreason
laughable
vsridiculous
60 4.1

So silly or not reasonable that people do not take it seriously

is broader, meaning extreme unreason beyond simple amusement
nonsensical
vsridiculous
39 5.5

Not making sense or having any meaning

is more about being laughably unreasonable rather than simply meaningless
farcical
vsridiculous
7 8.5

A situation that is very silly and unlikely, like a comic play

is the general label for extreme unreason beyond theatrical humour
cockeyed
vsridiculous
  • Informal
4 8.9

A foolish idea or plan that will not work

is the broader category of extreme unreason that invites laughter
derisory
vsridiculous
1 8.3

So small that people see it as a joke

is the wider sense of extreme unreason or absurdity beyond amounts
derisible
vsridiculous
9.3

So silly that people laugh at it

is similar but stresses general extreme unreason rather than contempt
cockamamy
vsridiculous
  • Informal
9.9

Very silly and not likely to be true

is more formal and denotes serious extreme unreason deserving mockery
out of Absurdistan
vsridiculous
  • UK
9.9

So ridiculous that it seems unreal or made up

is the plain expression of extreme unreason without the surreal image
killingly absurd
vsridiculous
  • Informal
8.4

Very silly in a way that makes people laugh

is similar in intensity but framed as general extreme unreason
bed-wettingly ridiculous
vsridiculous
  • Informal
9.9

Very funny and silly in a way that makes people laugh hard

is the core idea of extreme silliness that invites mockery rather than only laughter

Antonyms

595 2.7

Fair and sensible in thinking and behavior

201 2.7

Showing good judgment and making practical choices

Compounds

Very funny and silly in a way that makes people laugh hard

How Silly

ludicrous
100 6.0
ridiculous
1.6
absurd
288 4.4
silly
976 1.0

Surface Forms

ridiculous positive
ridiculouser comparative
ridiculouest superlative

Morphology

ridiculous = ridicule (transparent) = ridicule + ous

Clear adjectival formation from the noun 'ridicule' with the productive suffix '-ous', so learners who know 'ridicule' can infer 'ridiculous'.

Etymology

Ridiculous comes from the Latin ridiculus, from ridere meaning 'to laugh', and is like the English word ridicule, so it describes something so silly or unreasonable that it makes people laugh.