ridiculous thoughts

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "ridiculous thoughts" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe ideas or notions that are absurd or nonsensical. Example: "After considering all the options, I realized that my initial plan was filled with ridiculous thoughts that would never work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Over the years, the conservative talk shows that permeate rural America's airwaves had a big hand in this by conjuring up ridiculous thoughts that big city Democratic "environmentalists" ( guarding a spotted owl nest or something else) were holding our lands hostage, and at the same time, holding back progress in rural America.

The New York Times

But because analysts are never held accountable for anything — be it the laughable rumors they create by doing "checks" or the ridiculous thoughts on the company they spread and others pick up simply because they're labeled "experts" and well paid — Apple takes the blame.

TechCrunch

Keep calm and try to "empty" your brain of ridiculous thoughts.

WikiHow

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

I think it's a ridiculous thought".

The New York Times - Sports

At some point she was struck by a ridiculous thought.

The New York Times - Sports

This is such a ridiculous thought that we must laugh at it.

Independent

Oh, how we chortled at the ridiculous thought, even after Manuva claimed to be sincere.

The Guardian - Music

But it's a ridiculous thought; he hasn't been in a hand-to-hand fight since he was eight.

The New Yorker

Christopher microphonekins, microphand in hand, turned to Viv Richards, who was working for BBC radio, and asked: 'When did you last play?' and a ridiculous thought flickered across our minds.

The Guardian - Sport

It is a wonderfully ridiculous thought: teens in 2016, toiling thanklessly in digital cubicles, almost a decade, at least, before they will enter the workforce.

The New Yorker

And, once a ridiculous thought, it is now not at all inconceivable that Chennai could (one day) become to south India what Miami has been to Florida.

The Guardian - Travel

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "ridiculous thoughts" to express disbelief or mockery of an idea. For stronger emphasis, consider alternatives like "absurd notions" or "preposterous concepts".

Common error

Avoid relying on "ridiculous thoughts" in professional or academic contexts where a more precise and nuanced critique is expected. Instead, opt for phrases that pinpoint the specific flaw, such as "unsubstantiated claims" or "methodological errors".

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "ridiculous thoughts" is as a noun phrase that functions as the object or subject complement. Ludwig shows the phrase being used to describe ideas or notions that are considered absurd or nonsensical.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Wiki

30%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

7%

Reference

7%

Encyclopedias

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "ridiculous thoughts" is a grammatically sound noun phrase used to describe absurd or nonsensical ideas. Ludwig indicates the phrase is correct and provides context for its usage, albeit with limited instances. While not overly common, it is readily understood, with viable alternatives including "absurd notions" and "ludicrous ideas". When employing this phrase, especially in formal writing, ensure it aligns with the intended tone and precision, opting for more specific criticisms when appropriate.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

nonsensical ideas

Replaces "ridiculous" with "nonsensical", emphasizing the lack of logic or reason.

absurd notions

Replaces "ridiculous" with "absurd" and "thoughts" with "notions", slightly changing the tone but maintaining the core meaning.

ludicrous ideas

Substitutes "ridiculous" with "ludicrous" and "thoughts" with "ideas", offering a more formal alternative.

preposterous concepts

Replaces "ridiculous" with "preposterous" and "thoughts" with "concepts", intensifying the sense of absurdity.

outlandish ideas

Substitutes "ridiculous" with "outlandish", suggesting the thoughts are bizarre or unconventional.

irrational thoughts

Substitutes "ridiculous" with "irrational", focusing on the lack of reason or logical basis.

foolish notions

Replaces "ridiculous" with "foolish", implying a lack of intelligence or wisdom.

far-fetched ideas

Replaces "ridiculous" with "far-fetched", highlighting the implausibility or unlikelihood of the ideas.

silly ideas

Substitutes "ridiculous" with "silly", softening the expression to suggest the thoughts are lighthearted or trivial.

inane thoughts

Replaces "ridiculous" with "inane", suggesting the thoughts are empty or meaningless.

FAQs

How can I use "ridiculous thoughts" in a sentence?

You can use "ridiculous thoughts" to describe ideas that are absurd or nonsensical. For example, "He dismissed the conspiracy theory as "ridiculous thoughts"." or "I tried to ignore the "ridiculous thoughts" that crept into my mind during the exam".

What can I say instead of "ridiculous thoughts"?

You can use alternatives like "absurd notions", "ludicrous ideas", or "preposterous concepts" depending on the context.

Which is correct, "ridiculous thoughts" or "ridiculous thinkings"?

"Ridiculous thoughts" is the correct and more common phrase. "Ridiculous thinkings" is not standard English.

What is the difference between "ridiculous thoughts" and "wishful thinking"?

"Ridiculous thoughts" refers to ideas that are absurd or nonsensical. "Wishful thinking", on the other hand, refers to believing something will happen because you want it to, even if it's unlikely.