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Glite Dictionary
risibility

risibility

9.9
A tendency to laugh easily
  • noun
  • /ˌrɪzəˈbɪlɪti/
  • Formal
translation icon : risibilidad
  • Her playful jokes are known to inspire risibility at family gatherings, making everyone feel joyful.

Examples

  • The guests seemed unable to restrain their risibilities.

    Academic text (2007)

  • Anyone, Indian or white, who can tickle the risibilities of the Saulteaux is socially popular.

    Academic text (2002)

  • Watching the comedy show brought out such a sense of risibility that everyone was laughing uncontrollably.

  • The absurdity of his remarks often elicited risibility among his friends, who would burst into laughter.

Synonyms

sense of humor
vsrisibility
  • US
421 3.1

To see and enjoy what is funny and sometimes make others laugh

is an internal tendency to laugh rather than an ability to express amusement

Antonyms

seriousness
53 2.7

A calm and honest way of speaking or acting that shows you mean what you say

How Laughable

hilarity
12 5.2
mirth
15 6.1
risibility
  • Formal
9.9
amusement
65 1.2
seriousness
53 2.7

Surface Forms

risibility singular
risibilities plural

Morphology

risibility = risible (opaque) = risible + ity

Formed from the rare adjective 'risible' + the regular nominalizing suffix '-ity'; because 'risible' and its root 'ris-' are not familiar to most learners, the meaning is not easily derived.

Etymology

Risibility comes from the Latin root ridere meaning 'to laugh', the same root behind words like ridiculous and deride. So, risibility is the quality of being likely to laugh or to make others laugh.