LUDICROUS Synonyms: 158 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'ludicrous' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ludicrous are comical , comic , laughable , and ridiculous . While all these words mean "provoking laughter or mirth," ludicrous suggests absurdity that excites both laughter and scorn. // a thriller with a ludicrous plot

Q: When can 'comic' be used instead of 'ludicrous'?

While the synonyms comic and ludicrous are close in meaning, comic applies especially to what arouses thoughtful amusement. // a comic character

Q: Where would 'comical' be a reasonable alternative to 'ludicrous'?

In some situations, the words comical and ludicrous are roughly equivalent. However, comical applies to what arouses spontaneous hilarity. // a comical hat

Q: When is 'laughable' a more appropriate choice than 'ludicrous'?

The meanings of laughable and ludicrous largely overlap; however, laughable applies to anything occasioning laughter. // laughable attempts at skating

Q: When could 'ridiculous' be used to replace 'ludicrous'?

The synonyms ridiculous and ludicrous are sometimes interchangeable, but ridiculous suggests extreme absurdity, foolishness, or contemptibility. // a ridiculous display of anger

ludicrous

adjective

ˈlü-də-krəs

Definition of ludicrous next

as in funny

causing or intended to cause laughter the ludicrous sight of their teacher in a Halloween costume

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in ridiculous

so foolish or pointless as to be worthy of scornful laughter a ludicrous and easily detected attempt to forge his father's signature on a note to school

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How does the adjective ludicrous differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of ludicrous are comical, comic, laughable, and ridiculous. While all these words mean "provoking laughter or mirth," ludicrous suggests absurdity that excites both laughter and scorn.

a thriller with a ludicrous plot

When can comic be used instead of ludicrous?

While the synonyms comic and ludicrous are close in meaning, comic applies especially to what arouses thoughtful amusement.

a comic character

Where would comical be a reasonable alternative to ludicrous?

In some situations, the words comical and ludicrous are roughly equivalent. However, comical applies to what arouses spontaneous hilarity.

a comical hat

When is laughable a more appropriate choice than ludicrous?

The meanings of laughable and ludicrous largely overlap; however, laughable applies to anything occasioning laughter.

laughable attempts at skating

When could ridiculous be used to replace ludicrous?

The synonyms ridiculous and ludicrous are sometimes interchangeable, but ridiculous suggests extreme absurdity, foolishness, or contemptibility.

a ridiculous display of anger

Examples Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of ludicrous Squid Game season 2 The wildly popular South Korean series about a deadly underground competition for a ludicrous amount of prize money is back after a three-year hiatus. —

Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024 That explains the ludicrous decision this month of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in TikTok Inc. v. Garland to uphold Congress’ ban on TikTok, a social media platform, professedly to protect us from Chinese conquest or control. —

Bruce Fein, Baltimore Sun, 19 Dec. 2024 One of the reading passages was so ludicrous it was featured on John Oliver. —

Kemala Karmen, New York Daily News, 18 Dec. 2024 So it also is grounded in a kind of reality, even though piercing the sternum with the vampire's teeth is ludicrous. —

Angela Watercutter, WIRED, 25 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ludicrous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ludicrous

Adjective

Favorite Memory Activity: There needs to be a healthy level of trust for this activity to work well, but the idea is that people share a memory from their childhood, perhaps a funny story, challenging time or a proud moment.

Julie Kratz, Forbes, 8 Jan. 2025
In Eureka Day, Jonathan Spector’s incisive and dazzlingly funny play now on Broadway about a Berkeley school board navigating a mumps outbreak, Amber Gray is a new parent named Carina.

Marley Marius, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025