ridiculous
Americanadjective
adjective
Synonym Usage
See absurd.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of ridiculous
First recorded in 1540–50; from Late Latin rīdiculōsus “laughable, droll,” equivalent to Latin rīdicul(us), adjective derivative of rīdiculum ridicule ( def. ) + -ōsus -ous ( def. )
Explanation
Did you just say that you could toss a rubber chicken over an ocean? Don’t be ridiculous, because ridiculous words are hard to believe, and they will make others laugh at you, not always in a good way either. The adjective ridiculous comes from the Latin word ridere, which means “to laugh,” but it’s also related to the word ridicule, which means to mock in a cruel way. A mocking and cruel laughter, that’s a common reaction to ridiculous situations. However, there are all different kinds of ridiculous, like seeing a fish holding an umbrella while riding a bike.
Vocabulary lists containing ridiculous
The Secret Life of Bees
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Commonly Misspelled Words, List 6
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"Abuela Invents the Zero" and "Karate"
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
She looked into COBRA, but the cost is absolutely ridiculous.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 22, 2026
So coach Matt Logan decided to do something even more ridiculous with his playcalling.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026
And not just because he thinks the robes look "ridiculous".
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
Colburn acknowledges that it might at first seem "a little ridiculous" that the researchers are aiming for losses that can be described by percentages over kilometers.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026
“I thought you lived over there”—the ridiculous badger gestured—“in that mushroom infestation.”
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
