comic
1 of 2adjective
com·ic ˈkä-mik 
1
: of, relating to, or marked by comedy
a comic actor
2
: causing laughter or amusement : funny
a comic monologue
3
: of or relating to comic strips
the newspaper's comic section
comic
2 of 2noun
1
: comedian
a stand-up comic
2
: the comic element
3
a
: comic strip
b
: comic book
c
comics plural : the part of a newspaper devoted to comic strips
Synonyms
Adjective
- antic
- chucklesome
- comedic
- comical
- droll
- farcical
- funny
- hilarious
- humoristic
- humorous
- hysterical
- hysteric
- killing
- laughable
- ludicrous
- ridiculous
- riotous
- risible
- screaming
- sidesplitting
- uproarious
Noun
- card
- comedian
- droll
- farceur
- funnyman
- gagger
- gagman
- gagster
- humorist
- jester
- joker
- jokester
- wag
- wit
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective The drama has some comic moments. His comic timing is impeccable. The scene was included for comic effect. Noun posted an especially funny comic by the watercooler a celebrated humorist who, without fail, could find the comic in even the most mundane of situations
Recent Examples on the Web
Devan Coggan, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2022 Then a rising but little-known nightclub comic and TV writer, Pryor’s running commentary on life in Watts and in Black America introduced him to a larger American audience. Rj Smith, Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2022 The original comic run (and subsequent issues) has various unrelated stories and characters worthy of television treatment, meaning the show could go on for years without needing to veer away from the source material. Milan Polk, Men's Health, 19 Aug. 2022 The effect is quietly comic, and also a statement of artistic control. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 1 July 2022 Sana Amanat, who’s the co-creator of the comic and the executive producer of the show, is the keeper and heartbeat of the story, and so many of these storylines are vetted through her and her personal experience. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 June 2022 The late comic and sitcom star is remembered/roasted by his peers in this new special. Tribune News Service, cleveland, 5 June 2022 Mo’Nique, the Duluth stand-up comic and Oscar-winning actress, has had feuds in the past with Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey and Lee Daniels as well as Netflix. Rodney Ho, ajc, 1 June 2022 Gary Oldman is outstanding, in an over-the-top way, as the hard-drinking, sour-tempered, slovenly, blackly comic, and brilliant Jackson Lamb. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 1 June 2022 Evan Romano, Men's Health, 10 Aug. 2022 The late comic and writer (right), who’d go on to create the Super Dave Osborne persona, shared a windowless office with Martin while the two wrote for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1968. Mikey O'connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Aug. 2022 Already, the price of admission has skyrocketed in the wake of news that Michele is embodying the incandescent comic and chanteuse Fanny Brice. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 14 July 2022 There’s a comic, and a whole lot of lore, about him too. Wired, 10 July 2022 Beginning his career as a comic, Storch became best known for his work as a funny man on television. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 8 July 2022 With a new campaign built around the eponymous comic and movie hero, Miles Morales offers hours of web-slinging, crime-fighting, and suit-collecting across a beautiful New York City winter. Harry Rabinowitz, Popular Mechanics, 24 June 2022 Saga of the Swamp Thing is an essential comic, but especially for fans of The Sandman. Christian Holub, EW.com, 17 Aug. 2022 One of the classes, which focused on comics theory, culminated in drafting an original comic as the final assignment. Annie Nickoloff, cleveland, 7 June 2022 See More
Adjective
Love and Thunder draws on a particular Thor comic run, written by Jason Aaron with art by Esad Ribic, Russell Dauterman, Mike Del Mundo, and others. Devan Coggan, EW.com, 8 Sep. 2022 Then a rising but little-known nightclub comic and TV writer, Pryor’s running commentary on life in Watts and in Black America introduced him to a larger American audience. Rj Smith, Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2022 The original comic run (and subsequent issues) has various unrelated stories and characters worthy of television treatment, meaning the show could go on for years without needing to veer away from the source material. Milan Polk, Men's Health, 19 Aug. 2022 The effect is quietly comic, and also a statement of artistic control. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 1 July 2022 Sana Amanat, who’s the co-creator of the comic and the executive producer of the show, is the keeper and heartbeat of the story, and so many of these storylines are vetted through her and her personal experience. Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 June 2022 The late comic and sitcom star is remembered/roasted by his peers in this new special. Tribune News Service, cleveland, 5 June 2022 Mo’Nique, the Duluth stand-up comic and Oscar-winning actress, has had feuds in the past with Tyler Perry, Oprah Winfrey and Lee Daniels as well as Netflix. Rodney Ho, ajc, 1 June 2022 Gary Oldman is outstanding, in an over-the-top way, as the hard-drinking, sour-tempered, slovenly, blackly comic, and brilliant Jackson Lamb. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 1 June 2022 Noun
The series really stretches the entire 10 episodes, and building to that event in the comic of the serial killers convention. Evan Romano, Men's Health, 10 Aug. 2022 The late comic and writer (right), who’d go on to create the Super Dave Osborne persona, shared a windowless office with Martin while the two wrote for The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour in 1968. Mikey O'connell, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 Aug. 2022 Already, the price of admission has skyrocketed in the wake of news that Michele is embodying the incandescent comic and chanteuse Fanny Brice. Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 14 July 2022 There’s a comic, and a whole lot of lore, about him too. Wired, 10 July 2022 Beginning his career as a comic, Storch became best known for his work as a funny man on television. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 8 July 2022 With a new campaign built around the eponymous comic and movie hero, Miles Morales offers hours of web-slinging, crime-fighting, and suit-collecting across a beautiful New York City winter. Harry Rabinowitz, Popular Mechanics, 24 June 2022 Saga of the Swamp Thing is an essential comic, but especially for fans of The Sandman. Christian Holub, EW.com, 17 Aug. 2022 One of the classes, which focused on comics theory, culminated in drafting an original comic as the final assignment. Annie Nickoloff, cleveland, 7 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Adjective
Latin comicus, from Greek kōmikos, from kōmos revel
First Known Use
Adjective
1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Noun
1687, in the meaning defined at sense 2
Phrases Containing comic
Kids Definition
comic
adjective
com·ic ˈkä-mik
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of comedy
2
: funny entry 1 sense 1
comic 1 of 2
noun
1
as in comedian
a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor a well-known TV comic Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- comedian
- humorist
- droll
- farceur
- funnyman
- entertainer
- card
- jokester
- clown
- jester
- wag
- joker
- gagman
- comedienne
- gagster
- wit
- gagger
- knockabout
- harlequin
- practical joker
- teaser
- kidder
- buffoon
- zany
- caricaturist
- parodist
- prankster
- satirist
- wisecracker
- quipster
- cutup
- banterer
- fool
- lampooner
- quipper
2
as in cartoon
a series of drawings that tell a story or part of a story posted an especially funny comic by the watercooler Synonyms & Similar Words
- cartoon
- funny
- strip
- comic strip
- animation
- animated cartoon
- graphic novel
- comic book
- caricature
- funny paper(s)
3
as in humor
the amusing quality or element in something a celebrated humorist who, without fail, could find the comic in even the most mundane of situations Synonyms & Similar Words
- humor
- humorousness
- comedy
- irony
- comicality
- funniness
- drollery
- richness
- drollness
- hilariousness
- satire
- amusement
- burlesque
- uproariousness
- enjoyment
- parody
- absurdity
- ridiculousness
- slapstick
- spoof
- ludicrousness
- pleasure
- lampoon
- farce
- whimsicality
- wittiness
- fun
- caricature
- jocularity
- playfulness
- takeoff
- wryness
- laughableness
- jokiness
- waggishness
- jest
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pathos
- grief
- misery
- sorrow
- anguish
- torture
- gravity
- heartbreak
- seriousness
- heartache
- woe
- agony
- tribulation
- torment
- solemnity
- somberness
- dolor
- solemnness
- soberness
comic
2 of 2adjective
as in comedic
causing or intended to cause laughter a comic monologue about his misadventures as a first-time camper Synonyms & Similar Words
- comedic
- humorous
- funny
- comical
- amusing
- entertaining
- hysterical
- ridiculous
- hilarious
- witty
- droll
- screaming
- farcical
- antic
- hysteric
- playful
- riotous
- humoristic
- uproarious
- ludicrous
- killing
- sidesplitting
- laughable
- chucklesome
- risible
- slapstick
- zany
- knockabout
- clownish
- slapsticky
- flippant
- laughing
- jocular
- merry
- facetious
- diverting
- whimsical
- waggish
- jokey
- flip
- campy
- wry
- jocose
- mirthful
- jolly
- jovial
- joky
- mad
- smart
- snickery
- smart-aleck
- rich
- smart-alecky
- gleeful
- priceless
- pert
- blithesome
- jocund
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- unfunny
- lame
- serious
- unamusing
- humorless
- uncomic
- tragic
- earnest
- solemn
- sombre
- somber
- grave
- staid
- poignant
- unsmiling
- tragical
- unhumorous
- severe
- unhysterical
- sedate
- sober
- weighty
- moving
- touching
- sad
- affecting
- sobersided
- sorrowful
- mournful
- no-nonsense
- woeful
- tearful
- lachrymose
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of comic are comical, laughable, ludicrous, and ridiculous. While all these words mean "provoking laughter or mirth," comic applies especially to what arouses thoughtful amusement.
a comic character
The words comical and comic can be used in similar contexts, but comical applies to what arouses spontaneous hilarity.
a comical hat
In some situations, the words laughable and comic are roughly equivalent. However, laughable applies to anything occasioning laughter.
laughable attempts at skating
Although the words ludicrous and comic have much in common, ludicrous suggests absurdity that excites both laughter and scorn.
a thriller with a ludicrous plot
While in some cases nearly identical to comic, ridiculous suggests extreme absurdity, foolishness, or contemptibility.
a ridiculous display of anger