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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
wearing a ridiculous outfit
a ridiculous price for that little house
ridiculousness noun
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
She looks ridiculous in that outfit. It was a ridiculous suggestion. That's an absolutely ridiculous price for that sweater.
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.
Of course, the Bears’ first playoff victory in 15 years came this way, in this season, with a ridiculous second-half comeback against the rival Packers, thanks to Caleb Williams’ late 25-yard touchdown pass to DJ Moore. The Athletic Nfl Staff, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026 People have since paid for the ridiculous ($7,500 for Ty Cobbs’ dentures) and the sublime ($28 million for Dorothy’s ruby red slippers), but the collectibles industry has exploded with the advent of the Internet. Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 11 Jan. 2026 The fact Oklahoma’s spot in the field went unquestioned, and Miami and Notre Dame needed to compete for one playoff spot, was ridiculous. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 9 Jan. 2026 This statement will put an end to the ridiculous speculation that has spread online. Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 9 Jan. 2026 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ridiculous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ridiculous. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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