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 many cases, the presence of AI in the classroom is a solution in search of a problem — just like the ludicrous, pointless innovations by the Laputan scientists. — Dónal Gill, The Dial, 8 Sep. 2026 He's got big plans for Season 3 Popular captions for the meme joke about male authority figures like dads and uncles ordering the viewer to do ludicrous tasks. — Owen Carry, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2026 Then right after was a meeting with a young woman who’s made one movie and has a script that’s ludicrous. — Rachel Handler, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026 Ycharts But despite ludicrous prices in the likes of Palantir Technologies (PLTR) and Crowdstrike Holdings (CRWD), the sector as a whole is starting to look more reasonable. — Brett Owens, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for ludicrous

Recent Examples of Synonyms for ludicrous

Adjective

Underneath the celebrity and the tabloid headlines is someone who’s vulnerable, funny and desperately trying to hold her life together.

— Max Goldbart, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
The book’s humor is sharp and merciless, akin to that of a standup comedy show, and yet the things described are far from funny.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of funny

Adjective

Absurd and darkly humorous drama, offering an unconventional take on aging, loneliness and human dignity.

— Annika Pham, Variety, 19 Oct. 2026
The production design is excellent, the humorous details of Vision’s metaphorical manse and the externalization of computer processes clever.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of humorous

Adjective

This episode notably lacked any nod to Trump, though mentions of the president as a whole have been brief compared to the previous season, when the president was the show’s focal point for absurd antics.

— Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026
And Saturday’s win proved that his plan to pursue championships — something that seemed absurd amid a lost 2025 season — has a real possibility of paying off with one.

— Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of absurd

Adjective

Drexler’s comedic sensibility was shaped, early on, by the vaudeville acts that performed in movie theatres in between screenings.

— Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026
Their ascent on YouTube included a 2025 comedic boxing match between Andrijasevic and Al-Emad, titled Hamzah vs Martin and held in Toronto over three rounds.

— Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of comedic

Adjective

But seeing my parents examining themselves in that way and connecting with people and putting themselves in vulnerable and silly and meaningful situations.

— Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 11 Oct. 2026
That scene was always the silliest in the American version, and its absence in the international edition was a wise choice.

— Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of silly

Adjective

The amusing part is that if Mahomes spoke out in support of the bill, Le Batard would almost certainly demand his silence.

— Bobby Burack OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Without recounting every amusing or harrowing detail, a good deal of interactive psychological grilling ensued.

— Chris Willman, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of amusing

Browse Nearby Words

ludic

ludicrous

ludicrousness

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“Ludicrous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ludicrous. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of ludicrous

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