Definitions for ridiculous
rɪˈdɪk yə ləsridicu·lous

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. pathetic, ridiculous, sillyadjective

   inspiring scornful pity

   "how silly an ardent and unsuccessful wooer can be especially if he is getting on in years"- Dashiell Hammett

2. absurd, cockeyed, derisory, idiotic, laughable, ludicrous, nonsensical, preposterous, ridiculousadjective

   incongruous;inviting ridicule

   "the absurd excuse that the dog ate his homework"; "that's a cockeyed idea"; "ask a nonsensical question and get a nonsensical answer"; "a contribution so small as to be laughable"; "it is ludicrous to call a cottage a mansion"; "a preposterous attempt to turn back the pages of history"; "her conceited assumption of universal interest in her rather dull children was ridiculous"

3. farcical, ludicrous, ridiculousadjective

   broadly or extravagantly humorous; resembling farce

   "the wild farcical exuberance of a clown"; "ludicrous green hair"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. ridiculousadjective

   Deserving of ridicule; foolish; absurd.

   Adam's hair is ridiculous.

2. Etymology: From ridiculus; see ridicule.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Ridiculousadjective

   Worthy of laughter; exciting contemptuous merriment.

   Etymology: ridicule, Fr. ridiculus, Lat.

   Thus was the building left
   Ridiculous; and the work confusion nam’d. John Milton.

   It was not in Titus’s power not to be derided; but it was in his power not to be ridiculous. South.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Ridiculous

   To be ridiculous is to be something which is highly incongruous or inferior, sometimes deliberately so to make people laugh or get their attention, and sometimes unintendedly so as to be considered laughable and earn or provoke ridicule and derision. It comes from the 1540s Latin "ridiculosus" meaning "laughable", from "ridiculus" meaning "that which excites laughter", and from "ridere" meaning "to laugh". "Ridiculous" is an adjective describing "the ridiculous". In common usage, "ridiculousness" is used as a synonym for absurdity or nonsense. From a historical and technical viewpoint, "absurdity" is associated with argumentation and reasoning, "nonsense" with semantics and meaning, while "ridiculous" is most associated with laughter, superiority, deformity, and incongruity. Reductio ad absurdum is a valid method of argument, while reductio ad ridiculum is invalid. Argument by invective declaration of ridiculous is invalid, while arguments involving declarations of nonsense may summarize a cogent semantic problem with lack or meaning or ambiguity. Historically, the ridiculous was central to initial theories of humor and laughter as first put forth by philosopher Thomas Hobbes. It is currently used in the theory of humor to create laughter, shock, parody, or satire. Reactions to the ridiculous have been studied in psychology for its effects on memory, attention, and attitude in social hierarchies. These studies have been applied to the theory of advertisement regarding attention, memory, and alleviation of preexisting negative attitudes toward products. The ridiculous is often contrasted with the sublime, one of extreme inferiority, the other of extreme superiority, and often one can suddenly move from one extreme state to the other.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Ridiculousadjective

   fitted to excite ridicule; absurd and laughable; unworthy of serious consideration; as, a ridiculous dress or behavior

2. Ridiculousadjective

   involving or expressing ridicule

FreebaseRate this definition:3.0 / 1 vote

1. Ridiculous

   Ridiculous is an album by the British New Wave group Squeeze. It is the band's eleventh studio album, and it introduces new drummer Kevin Wilkinson. As on the previous album, Some Fantastic Place, the band recorded one song penned by Keith Wilkinson. This time, however, Keith was not permitted to perform the lead vocals. That song, "Got to Me", is the last Wilkinson would write with Squeeze. Chris Difford sings lead on two songs, "Long Face" and "Fingertips". He had not performed lead on an album cut since "Slaughtered, Gutted and Heartbroken" and "Love Circles" on the 1989 album Frank. This record was produced by Glenn Tilbrook and Peter Smith.

British National Corpus

1. Written Corpus Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'ridiculous' in Written Corpus Frequency: #2119

2. Adjectives Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'ridiculous' in Adjectives Frequency: #636

How to pronounce ridiculous?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say ridiculous in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of ridiculous in Chaldean Numerology is: 9

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of ridiculous in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of ridiculous in a Sentence

1. Adam Osmayev:

   The fact the FSB is . trying to somehow implicate me in Nemtsov's murder is utterly ridiculous.

2. Joe Concha:

   Because Joe Biden’s ban comes from good, decent place in an effort to save lives, while Trump just did it as an excuse to ban people from coming here, as utterly sophomoric and ridiculous as those arguments are in applying motive, there are actually enough viewers and readers out there willing to believe it.

3. Jerry Seinfeld:

   The suit is the funniest thing you can wear, the suit is the funniest outfit of all time. It's an outfit... it just looks ridiculous. Because you [ the audience ] knows this guy does not need a suit.

4. Donald Trump:

   The drug companies control the drug industry, I mean it's ridiculous, and the military companies -- I mean it's ridiculous.

5. Lindsey Graham:

   If I hear one more time that we're going to send the Kurds to go clean up the whole world, that's just ridiculous. The Kurdish military is not an expeditionary force.

Popularity rank by frequency of use