ridiculous

adjective ri·dic·u·lous \rə-ˈdi-kyə-ləs\

: extremely silly or unreasonable

Full Definition of RIDICULOUS

: arousing or deserving ridicule : extremely silly or unreasonable : absurd, preposterous

— ri·dic·u·lous·ly adverb

— ri·dic·u·lous·ness noun

See ridiculous defined for English-language learners

See ridiculous defined for kids

Examples of RIDICULOUS

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
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Origin of RIDICULOUS

Latin ridiculosus (from ridiculum jest, from neuter of ridiculus) or ridiculus, literally, laughable, from ridēre to laugh

First Known Use: 1550

Related to RIDICULOUS

Synonyms: absurd, cockamamy (or cockamamie), comical, derisive, derisory, farcical, laughable, ludicrous, pathetic, preposterous, risible, silly, for the birds

Antonyms: humorless, lame, unamusing, uncomic, unfunny, unhumorous, unhysterical

Synonym Discussion of 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>.