ridiculous definition

1. Fitted to excite ridicule; absurd and laughable; unworthy of serious consideration; as, a ridiculous dress or behavior. "Agricola, discerning that those little targets and unwieldy glaives ill pointed would soon become ridiculous against the thrust and close, commanded three Batavian cohorts . . . To draw up and come to handy strokes." (Milton)

2. Involving or expressing ridicule. "[It] provokes me to ridiculous smiling." (Shak)

Synonyms: Ludicrous, laughable, risible, droll, comical, absurd, preposterous. See Ludicrous.

- Ridic"ulously, Ridic"ulousness.

Origin: L. Ridiculosus, ridiculus, fr. Ridere to laigh. Cf. Risible.

(01 Mar 1998)