ridiculous

[ ri-dik-yuh-luhs ]

adjective

1. causing or worthy of ridicule or derision; absurd; preposterous; laughable:

   a ridiculous plan.

   Synonyms: farcical, comical, droll, funny, ludicrous, nonsensical

   Antonyms: sensible

2. Slang. absurdly or unbelievably good, bad, crazy, etc.:

   The concert was ridiculous, their best performance ever!

ridiculous

/ rɪˈdɪkjʊləs /

adjective

1. worthy of or exciting ridicule; absurd, preposterous, laughable, or contemptible

Derived Forms

• riˈdiculously, adverb
• riˈdiculousness, noun

Other Words From

• ri·dic·u·lous·ly adverb
• ri·dic·u·lous·ness ri·dic·u·los·i·ty [ri-dik-y, uh, -, los, -i-tee], noun
• hy·per·ri·dic·u·lous adjective
• hy·per·ri·dic·u·lous·ly adverb
• qua·si-ri·dic·u·lous adjective
• qua·si-ri·dic·u·lous·ly adverb
• un·ri·dic·u·lous adjective
• un·ri·dic·u·lous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of ridiculous¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Late Latin rīdiculōsus “laughable, droll,” equivalent to Latin rīdicul(us), adjective derivative of rīdiculum ridicule ( def ) + -ōsus -ous ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of ridiculous¹

C16: from Latin rīdiculōsus , from rīdēre to laugh

Idioms and Phrases

see from the ridiculous to the sublime .

Synonym Study

See absurd.

Example Sentences

One cabinet source said it was “ridiculous” to expect the health secretary not to give his view.

From BBC

Too many of the people we call pundits looked at him and his ridiculous digital trading cards and saw the phantasmagorial grandiose delusions of someone with superpowers not to be taken seriously.

From Salon

“This is getting a bit ridiculous now. There seems to be no urgency.”

From BBC

“This is the closest I’ve been to him in 70 years, which is ridiculous,” he jokes poignantly.

From BBC

The best part is when Evans, as Jack, attempts to explain the whole mess to his son and ends up describing the inexplicable and ridiculous plot in a hilariously flat and literal manner.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• absurd
• bizarre
• fantastic
• foolish
• goofy
• impossible
• incredible
• laughable
• ludicrous
• nonsensical
• outrageous
• preposterous
• silly
• unbelievable
• wacky