LUDICROUS Synonyms: 157 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

as in funny

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonym Chooser

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

Example 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 In this World Cup, referees have often stopped the match on multiple occasions to check VAR for offside, sometimes issuing rulings that fans and teams consider ludicrous. — Jasmine Garsd, NPR, 17 July 2026 Right now, that sky-high distribution reflects the portfolio’s ludicrous gains, but that hasn’t always been the case. — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026 After decades of calm, the old stories that seemed too ludicrous to be true start happening again. — Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 9 July 2026 The parody songs are all perfectly ludicrous, but also pretty catchy! — Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for ludicrous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ludicrous

Adjective

Sarcasm is an interesting thing because it can be viewed by some people as funny and other people as hurtful.

— Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026
A little bit funny, a lot cheesy and completely, unabashedly earnest, her Liz is — like moms everywhere — at once a perfectly ordinary woman and the center of the universe.

— Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of funny

Adjective

In fact, a Texas jury once found that an alligator mascot infringed the beaver, so nobody should assume a judge shares their sense of the ridiculous.

— Roger Dooley, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
Throughout the evacuation, Olya fixates on the fact that men aged 18 to 60 are barred from leaving, all the while wearing a ridiculous big fluffy hat that seems to protect her more from the societal meltdown around her than from the cold.

— Sonya Vseliubska, IndieWire, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of ridiculous

Adjective

Meanwhile, in the Land of 10,000 Lakes, Mike Lindell, MyPillow CEO and amplifier of the most absurd of MAGA’s many election-denying claims, was defeated convincingly in his bid for the GOP nomination for governor.

— The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 12 Aug. 2026
Those black rectangles in Study for a Black Drawing are absurd attempts at the ideal void.

— Aaron Fagan, Artforum, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of absurd

Adjective

So there’s something really cathartic about watching Ulf — the lowliest, most base, comedic and ludicrous of all the Targaryens and dragonriders — beating him.

— Matt Minton, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
But submitting an episode this low on Gabby’s signature comedic energy is keeping Williams’s strongest attributes under wraps.

— Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2026

Definition of comedic

Adjective

Every season of Strange New Worlds has featured at least one episode that emphasizes Star Trek’s silly side (and this may not be the last such outing in season four).

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026
The silly yellow fruit that became a part of their culture was freighted, from the start, with suggestive meaning.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2026

Definition of silly

Adjective

North Texas Howard WKU Northwestern Rutgers Nebraska That's a pathetic first six weeks.

— Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 31 July 2026
Despite the Warriors operating with a pathetic sense of self-mortification — bending over backward for the mere possibility the King might grace them with his presence — the power of friendship wasn’t enough to lure James to the Bay.

— Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 24 July 2026

Definition of pathetic

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ludicrous

ludicrousness

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“Ludicrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ludicrous. Accessed 13 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of ludicrous

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