laughable

adjective

laugh·​able ˈla-fə-bəl 

ˈlä-

: of a kind to provoke laughter or sometimes derision : amusingly ridiculous

laughableness noun

laughably

ˈla-fə-blē 

ˈlä-

adverb

Synonyms

• antic
• chucklesome
• comedic
• comic
• comical
• droll
• farcical
• funny
• hilarious
• humoristic
• humorous
• hysterical
• hysteric
• killing
• ludicrous
• ridiculous
• riotous
• risible
• screaming
• sidesplitting
• uproarious

Choose the Right Synonym for laughable

laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous, comic, comical mean provoking laughter or mirth.

laughable applies to anything occasioning laughter.

laughable attempts at skating

ludicrous suggests absurdity that excites both laughter and scorn.

a thriller with a ludicrous plot

ridiculous suggests extreme absurdity, foolishness, or contemptibility.

a ridiculous display of anger

comic applies especially to what arouses thoughtful amusement.

a comic character

comical applies to what arouses spontaneous hilarity.

a comical hat

Examples of laughable in a Sentence

His attempt at skiing was laughable.

the laughable, boisterous antics of the circus clowns

Recent Examples on the Web

The other legend is the $3,000 check was a joke, an intentionally laughable amount. —Christopher Borrelli, Chicago Tribune, 14 Feb. 2025

What's laughable is the NBA and NFL's recent attempts to support social causes the exact opposite of the daily onslaught of gambling ads that care not about the consequences of addiction. —James L. Edwards Iii, The Athletic, 12 Feb. 2025

The early rankings were laughable at best, such as Etiwanda’s girls, the two-time defending state champions, being ranked No. 17. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 8 Feb. 2025

The idea that Canadians, in any signifiant number, want to be the 51st member of the United States of America is laughable. —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for laughable

• affable

Kids Definition

laughable

adjective

laugh·​able ˈlaf-ə-bəl 

ˈlȧf-

: causing laughter or scorn : ridiculous

laughableness noun

laughably

-blē 

adverb