ridiculous
gb/ɹɪdˈɪkjələs/ us/ɹɪdˈɪkjələs/
B1
English
~ 1600
nevetséges, abszurd, röhejes
B1
1
Usage pattern:
[something] is ridiculous
The price of that handbag is absolutely ridiculous.
Annak a kézitáskának teljesen nevetséges az ára.
He looked ridiculous wearing that oversized hat.
Nevetségesen nézett ki abban a túlméretezett kalapban.
It's ridiculous to drive there when it's only a five-minute walk.
The idea that the earth is flat is completely ridiculous.
She gave me a ridiculous excuse for being late.
Learner examples
That shirt looks ridiculous on him.
Nevetségesen áll rajta az az ing.
It is ridiculous to pay so much for coffee.
Nevetséges ennyit fizetni egy kávéért.
Her story was ridiculous and not true.
The movie was funny but also ridiculous.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'ridiculous' with 'funny'. While something ridiculous can be funny, it also often means it is unreasonable or silly in a bad way.
Meaning
Extremely silly or unreasonable
Collocations
absolutely ridiculous
|look ridiculous
|sound ridiculous
|ridiculous idea
|ridiculous price
Synonyms
absurd (Slightly more formal; often used in serious contexts.)
|
preposterous (More formal and stronger in tone, often used for emphasis.)
Antonyms
reasonable (Implies being fair, sensible, and logical.)
|
sensible (Implies practicality and sound judgment.)
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Very silly or not sensible at all.
So unreasonable, silly, or inappropriate that it causes amusement or disbelief.
Grammar
Dictionary form
ridiculous
IPA
GB/ɹɪdˈɪkjələs/
US/ɹɪdˈɪkjələs/
Syllables & stress
ri - dicu - lous (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (dicu)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: ridiculous
Word family
Core family
ridiculously
adverb
ridicule
noun B2
Related words
ridiculousness
noun
Expressions
look ridiculous
1/lˈʊk ɹɪdˈɪkjələs/
fixed phrase
Appear silly or unreasonable
To look very silly or not sensible to other people.
Examples
- He looked ridiculous in that clown costume.
- You’ll look ridiculous if you wear sandals in the snow.
make someone look ridiculous
1/mˈeɪk sˈʌmwˌʌn lˈʊk ɹɪdˈɪkjələs/
fixed phrase
Cause someone to appear silly
To do something that makes another person look very silly to other people.
Examples
- The prank made him look ridiculous in front of his friends.
- She was worried the mistake would make her look ridiculous at work.
sound ridiculous
1/sˈaʊnd ɹɪdˈɪkjələs/
fixed phrase
Seem silly or unreasonable when said
To seem very silly or not sensible when you say it or hear it.
Examples
- It may sound ridiculous, but I think we can finish this in one day.
- The idea sounded ridiculous at first, but it actually worked.