ridiculous
adjective
ri·dic·u·lous rə-ˈdi-kyə-ləs 
: arousing or deserving ridicule : extremely silly or unreasonable : absurd, preposterous
ridiculousness noun
Synonyms
- absurd
- cockamamy
- cockamamie
- comical
- derisive
- derisory
- farcical
- laughable
- ludicrous
- pathetic
- preposterous
- risible
- silly
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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. See More
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. See More Recent Examples on the Web For a swimmer to have a moustache was, well, ridiculous. David Woods, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Sep. 2022 But any notion that he should be fired is ridiculous. Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2022 While their arguments are typically ridiculous, the decadent setting more than makes up for it. Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 29 Aug. 2022 Everything about this big event – the constant concerns about our family members and guests, the details and checklists, and especially the expense – seems ridiculous to us now. Amy Dickinson, cleveland, 3 Aug. 2022 Everything about this big event – the constant concerns about our family members and guests, the details and checklists, and especially the expense – seems ridiculous to us now. Amy Dickinson, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2022 Everything about this big event – the constant concerns about our family members and guests, the details and checklists, and especially the expense – seems ridiculous to us now. Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 3 Aug. 2022 Everything about this big event – the constant concerns about our family members and guests, the details and checklists, and especially the expense – seems ridiculous to us now. Amy Dickinson, oregonlive, 3 Aug. 2022 Everything about this big event — the constant concerns about our family members and guests, the details and checklists, and especially the expense — seems ridiculous to us now. Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 3 Aug. 2022 See More
David Woods, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Sep. 2022 But any notion that he should be fired is ridiculous. Chad Finn, BostonGlobe.com, 2 Sep. 2022 While their arguments are typically ridiculous, the decadent setting more than makes up for it. Amy Mackelden, Harper's BAZAAR, 29 Aug. 2022 Everything about this big event – the constant concerns about our family members and guests, the details and checklists, and especially the expense – seems ridiculous to us now. Amy Dickinson, cleveland, 3 Aug. 2022 Everything about this big event – the constant concerns about our family members and guests, the details and checklists, and especially the expense – seems ridiculous to us now. Amy Dickinson, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2022 Everything about this big event – the constant concerns about our family members and guests, the details and checklists, and especially the expense – seems ridiculous to us now. Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 3 Aug. 2022 Everything about this big event – the constant concerns about our family members and guests, the details and checklists, and especially the expense – seems ridiculous to us now. Amy Dickinson, oregonlive, 3 Aug. 2022 Everything about this big event — the constant concerns about our family members and guests, the details and checklists, and especially the expense — seems ridiculous to us now. Amy Dickinson, Washington Post, 3 Aug. 2022 See More 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
Phrases Containing ridiculous
Kids Definition
ridiculous
adjective
ri·dic·u·lous rə-ˈdi-kyə-ləs
: causing or deserving ridicule : very silly or unreasonable
ridiculousness
noun
as in ludicrousness
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ludicrousness
- absurdity
- irony
- amusement
- enjoyment
- whimsicality
- funniness
- hilariousness
- richness
- laughableness
- satire
- wittiness
- comedy
- pleasure
- comicality
- wryness
- fun
- farce
- humorousness
- parody
- drollness
- burlesque
- spoof
- drollery
- playfulness
- jocularity
- lampoon
- slapstick
- humor
- comic
- uproariousness
- jokiness
- takeoff
- caricature
- waggishness
- jest
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- pathos
- misery
- sorrow
- seriousness
- grief
- anguish
- gravity
- agony
- torture
- woe
- heartbreak
- heartache
- tribulation
- torment
- solemnity
- somberness
- solemnness
- dolor
- soberness