risible

[ riz-uh-buhl ]

/ ˈrɪz ə bəl /

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See synonyms for risible on Thesaurus.com

adjective

causing or capable of causing laughter; laughable; ludicrous.

having the ability, disposition, or readiness to laugh.

pertaining to or connected with laughing.

OTHER WORDS FOR risible

1 funny, humorous, comical.

See synonyms for risible on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of risible

1550–60; <Late Latin rīsibilis that can laugh, equivalent to Latin rīs(us) (past participle of rīdēre to laugh) + -ibilis-ible

OTHER WORDS FROM risible

un·ris·i·ble, adjective

Words nearby risible

rise to, rise to the bait, rise to the occasion, rishi, risibility, risible, rising, rising action, rising damp, rising diphthong, rising hinge

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use risible in a sentence

The latter stages of the film, in which a conspiracy is broadly sketched out, would be wobbly enough without Oliver Stone making JFK out to be some sort of saint—but his soft-soaping of JFK’s management of the Bay of Pigs crisis is risible.
Oliver Stone’s Crackpot JFK Conspiracy Movie Is a Hilarious, Head-Spinning Mess|Caspar Salmon|July 12, 2021|The Daily Beast
Although the Taken movies are mostly risible, Neeson’s persona connected with audiences and his old-school masculinity inspired more talented filmmakers to seize on his popularity.
The surprisingly durable second act of Liam Neeson|Scott Tobias|June 25, 2021|Washington Post
It was an absurd case brought under a risible legal theory that was widely mocked even by many outspoken opponents of Obamacare.
The Supreme Court shut down an attack on Obamacare in the most dismissive way possible|Ian Millhiser|June 17, 2021|Vox
Annual property taxes are risible resembling other states’ monthly bills.
Lovely, little Delaware — long famous for corporations, chickens and credit cards — is ready for its big moment|Karen Heller|January 12, 2021|Washington Post

This year introduced a new, risible entry to the cultural lexicon: “The Coachella Diet.”
Coachella, Oasis For Douchebags and Trust Fund Babies, Should Be Avoided At All Costs|Marlow Stern|April 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The argument depends on a number of risible and obviously untrue assumptions.
Single Mothers Are Not America’s Real Welfare Queens|Amanda Marcotte|January 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
His essay was considered so risible that few even bothered trying to argue with it.
In Defense of Jonathan Franzen|Michelle Goldberg|September 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
His stature with the French public has sunk from rising star to risible lecher.
Dominique Strauss-Kahn Settles With Maid: How the Case Changed France|Christopher Dickey|December 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
As recently as 40 years ago the very idea of Scottish independence was considered risible.
A Stand-Alone Scotland|Alex Massie|January 11, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Risible, riz′i-bl, adj. capable of exciting laughter: laughable: amusing.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R)|Various
Her exclamations, at his extraordinary appearance, were too much for the risible muscles of the rest of the company.
Manners, Vol 2 of 3|Frances Brooke
Toby's breath caught in his throat for a moment, but he stiffened his risible muscle like a man.
Mammon and Co.|E. F. Benson
Humor operates from within, with its slow and prolonged excitation of your risible soul.
The Knickerbocker, Vol. 57, No. 1, January 1861|Various
Man is the only risible animal: risibility may be said, therefore, to be his distinguishing mark.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 64, No. 398, December 1848|Various

British Dictionary definitions for risible

risible

/ (ˈrɪzɪbəl) /

adjective

having a tendency to laugh

causing laughter; ridiculous

Derived forms of risible

risibly, adverb

Word Origin for risible

C16: from Late Latin rīsibilis, from Latin rīdēre to laugh

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

risible

OTHER WORDS FOR risible

Origin of risible

OTHER WORDS FROM risible

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How to use risible in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for risible

Derived forms of risible

Word Origin for risible