ridiculous

adjective

ri·​dic·​u·​lous rə-ˈdi-kyə-ləs How to pronounce ridiculous (audio)
Synonyms of ridiculousnext
: arousing or deserving ridicule : extremely silly or unreasonable : absurd, preposterous
ridiculousness noun

Synonyms

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Choose the Right Synonym for ridiculous

laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous, comic, comical mean provoking laughter or mirth.

laughable applies to anything occasioning laughter.

laughable attempts at skating

ludicrous suggests absurdity that excites both laughter and scorn.

a thriller with a ludicrous plot

ridiculous suggests extreme absurdity, foolishness, or contemptibility.

a ridiculous display of anger

comic applies especially to what arouses thoughtful amusement.

a comic character

comical applies to what arouses spontaneous hilarity.

a comical hat

Examples of ridiculous in a Sentence

His band mates take the stage in ridiculous elf costumes—black tights, pointy felt hats. — Jason Cohen, Rolling Stone, 23 Feb. 1995
I also poked fun at those ridiculous fins on the '59 Cadillac. The '60, now, that was something else, and I've thought highly enough of the design to have owned two of them. — Marshall Schuon, New York Times, 30 June 1991
Take into account the artist's intention and choice of means. This sounds so elementary that it seems ridiculous to bring it up … — Leonardo Shapiro, Village Voice, 27 Aug. 1991
It was absurd for him to paint portraits for pay, and ridiculous to paint them for nothing; so he did not paint them at all. — William Dean Howells, The Rise of Silas Lapham, 1885
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
What’s even harder to believe is the ridiculous verse Wayne tees it off with. — Pitchfork, 6 June 2025 While season 3 has already dropped and delivered its fair share of ridiculous drama, fans shouldn't get too cozy because season 4 is coming in hot with even more secrets, scandals, and explosive revelations. — EW.com, 6 June 2025 Friday night’s outcome came down to two ridiculous shots from distance that got past one of the best goalies in the NWSL. — Fernando Ramirez, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 June 2025 For the purpose of the art of the deal, the threat of a universal tariff, currently at 10% but hypothetically due to rebound to the ridiculous reciprocal rates of 30% or 40% on key allies at the end of the 90-day pause in July, is a compelling one. — Tiana Lowe Doescher, The Washington Examiner, 6 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for ridiculous

Word History

Etymology

Latin ridiculosus (from ridiculum jest, from neuter of ridiculus) or ridiculus, literally, laughable, from ridēre to laugh

First Known Use

1550, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of ridiculous was in 1550

Phrases Containing ridiculous

Rhymes for ridiculous

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Browse Nearby Words

ridiculosity
ridiculous
ridiculously
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Cite this Entry

“Ridiculous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ridiculous. Accessed 14 Jun. 2025.

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Kids Definition

ridiculous

adjective
ri·​dic·​u·​lous rə-ˈdik-yə-ləs How to pronounce ridiculous (audio)
: causing or deserving ridicule : absurd, preposterous
ridiculously adverb
ridiculousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on ridiculous

Nglish: Translation of ridiculous for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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