ludicrous

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'ludicrous' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe something that is ridiculous or wildly exaggerated. Example sentence: His decision to sign up for a 20-mile race after not exercising for months was ludicrous.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Film

Sport

Opinion

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Karl Oyston did finally return her calls on Friday to tell her it was for security reasons, but the police have made sure everyone knows it is nothing to do with them and the idea is frankly ludicrous.

The Guardian - Sport

He looks sheepish and laughs: "Look, were one to say Ruskin's entire view were beside the point, it would be outrageous – ludicrous.

The Guardian - Film

It's a ludicrous spotlight they're under.

The Guardian - Film

The Americans can't be bothered, and the Europeans persist in dishing up ludicrous amounts of black tea.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

In the final cut, the white actors look ludicrous under caked-on bronzer, their inauthentically blue eyes emphasised by heavy Egyptian kohl.

The Guardian - Film

It was just after midnight soon after Real Madrid had beaten Elche thanks to a ludicrous late penalty and Spain's national police force were overrun with people reporting a robbery, so they responded with a tweet: "We've had over 120 mentions about football in the last 10 minutes.

The Guardian - Sport

The "make-up" of the three Cabinet ministers is as close an approximation as possible to the features, dress, and manners of the originals, and the fun of the thing consists partly in placing them in ridiculous situations, and partly in making them utter ludicrous exaggerations of the sentiments which they are supposed to profess or act upon in their public conduct.

The Guardian

A long leader, Memos put an end to the ludicrous idea that Britain's monarchy is politically neutral, made out a reasonable case for disclosure.

The Guardian

It was certainly noteworthy that in his recent interview in this newspaper, Clarke complained of the "ludicrous cycle of ridiculous housing booms followed by housing crashes".

The Guardian - Business

"I would have said very clearly that the party has a proud record of non-violence, and the suggestion that we would ever be supporting Al-Qaeda or IS or any terrorist group is ludicrous.

The Guardian

You will lose your talent for drowning out the truth: that clubbing is an activity so ludicrous, if you had to explain it to an alien you'd want as few visual aids as possible.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ludicrous" to describe situations, ideas, or claims that are so unreasonable or out of place that they invite ridicule. It's stronger than "silly" but less aggressive than "insulting".

Common error

While "ludicrous" is widely understood, be cautious using it in highly formal or academic writing. Opt for alternatives like "untenable" or "implausible" to maintain a more serious tone.

Linguistic Context

The adjective "ludicrous" primarily functions to modify nouns, expressing a strong sense of absurdity or unreasonableness. Ludwig AI confirms its correct and frequent usage in English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

45%

Film

15%

Opinion

15%

Less common in

Sport

10%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ludicrous" is a versatile adjective used to describe something absurd or unreasonable. Ludwig AI validates its correct usage. While "ludicrous" is widely used in diverse sources, including news and opinion pieces, caution is advised in strictly formal settings where words like "untenable" or "implausible" might be more appropriate. This term's expressive nature makes it suitable for conveying disbelief or ridicule, as evidenced by numerous examples found in Ludwig.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absurd

A more general term for something unreasonable or nonsensical.

ridiculous

Implies something is worthy of mockery or laughter.

preposterous

Suggests something is utterly absurd and beyond belief.

farcical

Similar to ridiculous but often implies a chaotic or disorganized situation.

outrageous

Implies something is shocking and unacceptable, often due to its absurdity.

laughable

Directly suggests something is so absurd it's funny.

nonsensical

Emphasizes the lack of logical sense or meaning.

inane

Highlights the silliness and lack of substance of something.

asinine

Stresses the foolishness and stupidity of something.

crazy

More informal, but can convey a sense of wild absurdity.

FAQs

How can I use "ludicrous" in a sentence?

You can use "ludicrous" to describe something that is absurd, ridiculous, or completely unreasonable. For example, "The suggestion that we could finish the project in a week was ludicrous."

What words are similar to "ludicrous"?

Similar words include "absurd", "ridiculous", "preposterous", and "farcical". Each carries a slightly different nuance, but all imply something is unreasonable or deserving of scorn.

Is it appropriate to use "ludicrous" in formal writing?

While generally acceptable, "ludicrous" might be too informal for some formal contexts. Consider alternatives like "untenable", "implausible", or "absurd" for a more professional tone.

What's the difference between "ludicrous" and "absurd"?

"Ludicrous" often implies something is so unreasonable that it's funny or ridiculous, whereas "absurd" focuses more on the lack of logic or rationality.