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comical

comical

39 3.1
Making people laugh because it is silly or unusual
  • adjective
  • /ˈkɒmɪkəl/
translation icon : cómico
  • Then the two of them smiled at the rather comical coincidences of their expressions, as did the two brothers.
  • almost comical
  • seem comical
  • often comical

I mean, it was comical if it wasn't so sad.

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Examples

  • The idea of computers without electronics seems comical, like something out of Gilligan's Island.

    Academic text (2003)
  • It was really comical to see them walking down the street.

  • And it was, it was just this comical situation.

  • It's just comical that we found ourselves in this situation.

  • Well, human beings are comical animals now.

  • The first rule, which is kind of a comical rule, is stand up straight with your shoulders back.

  • Even though they looked comical, she still tried these and other exercises.

    Fiction book (1994)
  • The scene that met their eyes was comical, and that was an understatement.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • The clown's silly dance was truly comical and had everyone laughing.

  • It was a comical mistake to think he could wear those mismatched socks to work.

Synonyms

funny
vscomical
1.0

Causing people to laugh or smile

emphasizes unusual or silly aspects that provoke laughter
comic
vscomical
289 1.9

Funny and meant to make people laugh

focuses on odd or silly qualities rather than an intent to perform comedy
hilarious
vscomical
  • Informal
264 1.5

Causing people to laugh loudly

is milder, focusing on odd or silly qualities rather than strong laughter
amusing
vscomical
208 1.0

Causes people to laugh and feel happy

tends to highlight odd or silly features as the main laughter cause
humorous
vscomical
76 1.6

Funny in a way that makes people laugh

focuses on odd or silly features rather than clever amusement
laughable
vscomical
60 4.1

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

stresses silliness or oddness as the reason for laughter
comedic
vscomical
34 3.7

About being funny and making people laugh

emphasizes silly or odd details as the cause of laughter, not just genre
farcical
vscomical
7 8.5

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

is less extreme, focusing on odd or silly details to cause laughter
risible
vscomical
  • Formal
3 8.0

To make people laugh

highlights odd or silly traits that make people laugh
mirthful
vscomical
1 6.3

Full of joy and laughter

is about causing laughter because something is odd or silly rather than being joyful
hilar
vscomical
  • Slang
9.9

Very funny and makes people laugh a lot

is more neutral and describes silliness in standard speech rather than casual slang

Antonyms

452 1.4

Calm and focused, not playful or joking

How Funny

sidesplitting
  • Informal
5.6
hilarious
  • Informal
264 1.5
funny
1.0
comical
39 3.1
silly
976 1.0

Surface Forms

comical positive
comicaler comparative
comicalest superlative

Morphology

comical = comic (transparent) = comic + al

The adjective is straightforwardly formed from 'comic' + the productive adjectival suffix '-al', so the meaning is directly predictable from the base.

Etymology

The word comical comes from comic, the same root as comedy, words for funny plays and stories that make people laugh. So, comical means 'causing laughter' or 'funny'.