laughable
/'lɑ:fəbl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
The idea that a tiny goldfish could win a race against a cheetah is laughable.
Definition
- Adjective:
- Arousing or provoking laughter: Something that is "laughable" is so silly, absurd, or ridiculous that it causes people to laugh or feel amusement.
- Deserving scorn or derision; absurdly inadequate or unreasonable: "Laughable" can also describe something that is so clearly foolish, illogical, or insufficient that it is worthy of mockery or contempt.
Usage and Examples
- Describing something silly or amusing:
- His attempt to fix the car with tape was laughable. (It was so silly and ineffective that it made people laugh.)
- The comedian's laughable impressions had the entire audience in stitches.
- Describing something absurdly inadequate or worthy of scorn:
- The company's offer of a one-dollar raise was laughable. (It was so small and unreasonable that it invited scorn.)
- It is laughable to think you can learn a language in one day. (The idea is absurd and not to be taken seriously.)
Advanced Usage
- "to be laughable": Often used with the verb "to be" to state that a situation, idea, or thing is ridiculous.
- The accusations against him are laughable; everyone knows he's innocent.
- Used to express strong disagreement or dismissal of an idea as preposterous.
- The suggestion that we should work all weekend is simply laughable.
Variants and Related Words
- Laughably (adverb): In a manner that is ridiculous or causes laughter.
- The project was laughably over budget.
- Laugh (verb/noun): The root word, meaning to make the spontaneous sounds and movements of the face and body that are the instinctive expressions of lively amusement.
- Risible (adjective): A more formal synonym meaning provoking laughter.
Synonyms
- Absurd: Wildly unreasonable, illogical, or inappropriate.
- Ridiculous: Deserving or inviting derision or mockery; absurd.
- Preposterous: Contrary to reason or common sense; utterly absurd or ridiculous.
- Comical: Amusing, especially in a ludicrous or absurd way.
Antonyms
- Serious: Demanding careful consideration or application; not joking or trifling.
- Reasonable: Having sound judgment; fair and sensible.
- Sensible: Done or chosen in accordance with wisdom or prudence; practical.
Idioms and Phrases
- A laughable excuse: An excuse that is so poor it is ridiculous.
- Saying "the dog ate my homework" is a laughable excuse.
- Beyond laughable: So absurd that it surpasses even being funny and becomes offensive or pathetic.
- Their lack of preparation for the crisis was beyond laughable; it was tragic.
The idea that a tiny goldfish could win a race against a cheetah is laughable.
Adjective
- arousing or provoking laughter
- an amusing film with a steady stream of pranks and pratfalls
- an amusing fellow
- a comic hat
- a comical look of surprise
- funny stories that made everybody laugh
- a very funny writer
- it would have been laughable if it hadn't hurt so much
- a mirthful experience
- risible courtroom antics
- 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