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

How do you parody someone who is both so cruel and ridiculous?

From Slate

“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

The idea that celebrities could somehow use their cultural power to get fans to vote for certain candidates struck me as ridiculous at best, and snobby and condescending at worst.

From Slate

His mother, Mandy Lawrence, said: "My son has seen murderers come in and murderers go home again, and he's not a murderer. It's ridiculous."

From BBC

Related Words

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