ridiculous
rih-DIHK-yuu-luhs
Ridiculous (adj) means deserving to be laughed at; absurd or foolish. Example: “It's ridiculous to expect the report by tomorrow morning.”
adj
1
Deserving to be laughed at; absurd or foolish.
"It's ridiculous to expect the report by tomorrow morning."
"He wore a ridiculous hat to the party."
"The magician looked ridiculous when his rabbit escaped and he chased it across the stage."
2
Informal: extreme or hard to believe, often used for emphasis.
"The traffic today was ridiculous."
"The queue for the coffee shop was ridiculous this morning."
"It's ridiculous how much homework we got this week."
How to use ridiculous
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSo absurd or extreme that it seems laughable.
Common pairings
a ridiculous idea
ridiculous prices
sound ridiculous
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more ridiculous
- Superlative
- most ridiculous
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It's _____ to expect the report by tomorrow morning.
Etymology
Borrowed from Latin rīdiculus (\"laughable\"); formed from ridicule plus -ous.
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for ridiculous
See all rhymes for ridiculous →Frequently asked questions
What does “ridiculous” mean?
The word “ridiculous” means deserving to be laughed at; absurd or foolish. In plain terms, so absurd or extreme that it seems laughable.
How do you pronounce “ridiculous”?
“Ridiculous” is pronounced rih-DIHK-yuu-luhs (/ɹɪˈdɪk.jə.ləs/ in IPA).
How do you use “ridiculous” in a sentence?
Here is “ridiculous” used in a sentence: “It's ridiculous to expect the report by tomorrow morning.”
What part of speech is “ridiculous”?
“Ridiculous” is an adjective.
Where does the word “ridiculous” come from?
The word “ridiculous” comes from Latin. Borrowed from Latin rīdiculus (\"laughable\"); formed from ridicule plus -ous.
Is “ridiculous” a common word?
“Ridiculous” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “ridiculous” have?
“Ridiculous” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: deserving to be laughed at; absurd or foolish.
What is the difference between ridiculous and absurd?
Both describe something that defies good sense, but ridiculous stresses that a thing deserves mockery or laughter, while absurd stresses that it defies logic or reason. A clown's outfit is ridiculous; a square circle is absurd. In everyday speech the two overlap heavily and are often used interchangeably.
Is ridiculous a positive or negative word?
It is usually negative, labelling something as foolish or worthy of ridicule. However, in casual slang it can flip to a compliment, so calling a performance or a meal 'ridiculous' can mean it was impressively, almost unbelievably good. Tone and context decide which meaning is intended.
What is an example of something ridiculous?
Wearing a heavy winter coat to the beach in summer would be ridiculous, as would a plan to empty the ocean with a spoon. The word suits anything so absurd, impractical, or foolish that a reasonable person would laugh at it or refuse to take it seriously.
What is the opposite of ridiculous?
The clearest opposites are sensible, reasonable, and rational, words for ideas or behaviour that hold up to scrutiny rather than inviting laughter. Serious, dignified, and credible also work when the contrast is about being taken seriously. The right opposite depends on whether you mean logical soundness or respectability.
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