hilarious

adjective

hi·​lar·​i·​ous hi-ˈler-ē-əs How to pronounce hilarious (audio)
hī-
Synonyms of hilarious
: marked by or causing hilarity : extremely funny
hilariously adverb
hilariousness noun

Synonyms of hilarious

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Examples of hilarious in a Sentence

Raymond is different, so well written and acted, so perfectly pitched, that even the silences, especially the silences, are hilarious. It makes comedy look easy. —James Morris, Wilson Quarterly, Autumn 2005
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Tim Burton's adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved (by children) and reviled (by critics and librarians) book, is quirky, well acted, often hilarious, and visually sumptuous, but don't go to it expecting sweetness in anything except the title. —Richard Alleva, Commonweal, 12 Aug. 2005
In fairness, McEnroe does have genuine passion for the game, and his willingness to take on the sport's sacred cows is admirable. His candor and hilarious random ruminations as an analyst make even the most lopsided matches worth watching. —Jon Wertheim, Sports Illustrated, 17 Sept. 2001
Since his material is genuinely funny, at times hilarious, it makes for a smashing use of audio as a unique entertainment medium. Sedaris has an unexpectedly high-pitched voice that comes across as majorly mischievous in its delivery … —Publishers Weekly, 5 May 1997
Some people don't like his comedy, but I think he's hilarious. She gave us a hilarious account of her first days as a teacher.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Told from a baby’s perspective, the Nickelodeon classic kept the action at ground (or carpet) level, offering a hilarious exploration of how tykes perceive and process adult concepts. — Madeline Boardman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Aug. 2026 When the ceremony was over, Lauren shares that many of her family and friends came up to tell her how hilarious the situation was from the audience. — Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026 Flitting between deadpan sorrow and impassioned romance, Bridgers’ album is alternately spooky, hilarious, mysterious and sneakily moving. — Chris Willman, Variety, 9 Aug. 2026 Throughout this whole saga, the WNBA has remained silent about protecting fairness in their league, so Freedom is putting their feet to the fire in a hilarious way. — Jon Root Outkick, FOXNews.com, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hilarious

Word History

Etymology

irregular from Latin hilarus, hilaris cheerful, from Greek hilaros

First Known Use

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hilarious was in 1925

Rhymes for hilarious

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Browse Nearby Words

Hilaria
hilarious
hilariously
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Cite this Entry

“Hilarious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hilarious. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hilarious

adjective
hi·​lar·​i·​ous hil-ˈar-ē-əs How to pronounce hilarious (audio)
-ˈer-;
hī-ˈlar-, 
-ˈler-
: causing hilarity : wildly funny
hilariously adverb
hilariousness noun

More from Merriam-Webster on hilarious

Nglish: Translation of hilarious for Spanish Speakers

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