Definitions
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- adj. Deserving or inspiring ridicule; absurd, preposterous, or silly. See Synonyms at foolish.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- Worthy of ridicule or contemptuous laughter; exciting derision; amusingly absurd; preposterous.
- Expressive of ridicule; derisive; mocking.
- Abominable; outrageous; shocking.
- Synonyms Funny, Laughable, etc. (see ludicrous), absurd, preposterous, farcical.
Wiktionary
GNU Webster's 1913
- adj. Fitted to excite ridicule; absurd and laughable; unworthy of serious consideration.
- adj. Involving or expressing ridicule.
WordNet 3.0
- adj. inspiring scornful pity
- adj. incongruous;inviting ridicule
- adj. broadly or extravagantly humorous; resembling farce
Etymologies
- From Latin rīdiculus, laughable, from rīdēre, to laugh.
Examples
“I do know that Borges thought the term ridiculous, and argued that then absolutely all the Western world was Latin, inasmuch as the Roman influence extended over all European cultures.”
“The defense team objected to Parrella's use of the phrase "ridiculous and unbelievable.”
“Scholes was one of the few players Ferguson absolved of any blame for what he described as a "ridiculous" and "careless" second-half performance.”
The Guardian: Wayne Rooney must live with media yen for 'Gascoigne No2' – Ferguson
“Back in NoMa, Bruce Tallerman , a writer who is a 12-year resident, called the name "ridiculous.”
“Noting he can make what he calls ridiculous money on the lecture circuit.”
“When Rush started he joked all the time about what he called the ridiculous and hysterical exaggerated characterizations that liberals had of conservatives.”
“He thinks that the Security Council should be praising his country instead of condemning it, in what he called ridiculous statements.”
“Today the Democrat is sounding fed up and frustrated by what he calls the ridiculous attempts to get back at him politically.”
“Electro-biology,' a term ridiculous as 'suggestion' and more so.”
“A few approved highly of my conduct; while many not only blamed, but publicly derided me, for what they termed a ridiculous weakness.”
Lists
These user-created lists contain the word ‘ridiculous’.
-
select words
luminous, radiant, malicious, zeal, ojalá, voluptuary, rubbish, purlicue, consarnit, upstart, precis, robinsonade and 66 more...
-
ptssssssss
uemph
sandcastle, for all to see, but, mostly, them, if they wish, sorta hope, maybe, pop-up, snap, gotcha, cause then i have... and 20 more...
-
Sophaloaf's list
Favorites!
belle, starfish, photography, buddha, dinosaur, floccinaucinihili..., hypoallergenic, sailor, gorgeous, adhesive, imagination, artichokes and 55 more...
-
Adjectives ending with ous
facetious, ambidextrous, glamourous, ridiculous, humorous, luminous, ubiquitous, gorgeous, precious, jealous
-
shutter's list
words that challenged or marveled me as a kid.
ridiculous, nebulous, elementary, gratutity, cermonious, loquacious
brtom Of the human form especially, it is so great it must never be made ridiculous. Whitman, Preface 1855 Dec 9, 2006