ludicrous explanations

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ludicrous explanations" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe explanations that are absurd, ridiculous, or laughable in nature. Example: "The scientist's ludicrous explanations for the phenomenon left the audience in disbelief."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

Hopefully the outcry his comments evoked will act as a caution to those with a compulsion to offer such ludicrous explanations.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

59 human-written examples

They later offered the ludicrous explanation that it took so long because their computer whizzes were unfamiliar with the operating systems.

The New York Times

By contrast, almost every genuinely damaging political scandal emerges when a politician denies something disgraceful; goes on denying it as the media enjoys itself; produces a totally ludicrous explanation when proof of the behaviour emerges; finally admits it, and has to resign.

Independent

A Utah politician who sparked outrage with his ludicrous explanation for why employers should not have to pay men and women equally has resigned from his position.

HuffPost

Nicole Cooke said she had missed only one test in 14 years herself, adding, "It's always the athlete's responsibility to make sure he or she is available for testing". Later, Bradley Wiggins told the Guardian "there was no excuse" for Armitstead missing the tests, and that her explanation was "ludicrous".

The Guardian - Sport

Of course, such an explanation is ludicrous - and untrue.

HuffPost

Magness said he believed that explanation to be "ludicrous" – and that they were instead trying to figure out how to cheat.

The Guardian - Sport

Or, maybe the public simply went along with the government-media complex's unison exhortation for a "war on terror," along with its promotion of the ludicrous "hate us for our freedom" explanation of the motivation behind the attacks.

Huffington Post

When politicians are stuck in a tight spot, their explanations range from the unlikely to the ludicrous.

Independent

Like other blame-the-women explanations, this one sounds plausible only when coupled with a totally ludicrous picture of gender roles.

Huffington Post

Clearly ludicrous.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ludicrous explanations" when you want to strongly convey that an explanation is not only wrong but also deserving of ridicule or disbelief. Ensure the context supports such a strong negative connotation.

Common error

Avoid using "ludicrous explanations" in contexts that require neutrality or objectivity. The phrase carries a strong negative judgment and is best reserved for situations where you are explicitly critiquing the validity of an explanation.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "ludicrous explanations" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "ludicrous" modifies the noun "explanations". It serves to characterize explanations as being absurd, unreasonable, or ridiculous, thereby conveying a strong negative assessment of their validity. This is aligned with what Ludwig AI says about its usage.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ludicrous explanations" is an adjective-noun phrase used to describe explanations that are absurd and worthy of ridicule. As shown by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and, while not overly common, it is suitable for contexts where you want to express strong disagreement or disbelief. It often appears in News & Media, and you can replace it with alternatives like "absurd justifications" or "ridiculous reasons" depending on the desired nuance. While effective in conveying a strong negative sentiment, remember to avoid overuse in neutral context. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically sound and its usage is consistent and appropriate in contexts requiring a description of absurd or unreasonable justifications.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

absurd justifications

Focuses on the unreasonableness of the justifications provided.

ridiculous reasons

Highlights the laughable nature of the reasons given.

preposterous accounts

Emphasizes the outrageous and unbelievable nature of the accounts.

farcical justifications

Implies that the justifications are so absurd as to be comical.

inane rationales

Suggests the rationales are empty and lack substance.

nonsensical reasoning

Focuses on the lack of logical sense in the reasoning provided.

implausible excuses

Highlights the lack of believability in the excuses.

foolish clarifications

Indicates that the clarifications provided are unwise or silly.

untenable interpretations

Focuses on the indefensibility of the interpretations offered.

laughable contentions

Emphasizes the ridiculousness of the contentions or claims.

FAQs

How can I use "ludicrous explanations" in a sentence?

You can use "ludicrous explanations" to describe justifications or reasons that are absurd or ridiculous. For example: "The politician's "ludicrous explanations" for his actions were met with widespread skepticism".

What can I say instead of "ludicrous explanations"?

You can use alternatives like "absurd justifications", "ridiculous reasons", or "preposterous accounts" depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Which is correct, "ludicrous explanations" or "absurd explanations"?

Both "ludicrous explanations" and "absurd explanations" are grammatically correct, but "ludicrous" carries a stronger connotation of ridicule and disbelief compared to "absurd".

What's the difference between "ludicrous explanations" and "weak explanations"?

"Ludicrous explanations" suggests the explanations are so unreasonable they are laughable. "Weak explanations" simply means the explanations are unconvincing or lack sufficient support, without necessarily being ridiculous.