seem ridiculous

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "seem ridiculous" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used when expressing an opinion or perception that something appears to be absurd or unreasonable. Example: "The idea that we could finish the project in one day seems ridiculous given the amount of work involved."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Soon, ridiculing the idea of watching other people play video games will seem ridiculous in itself.

The Guardian - Tech

(Seem ridiculous? Google "trump duckface").

The New York Times

Only Apple made them not seem ridiculous.

The New Yorker

This might seem ridiculous to us now.

The Guardian - Arts

To the teenagers, the repetitions seem ridiculous.

The Guardian

N: Ha! Yes, it does sometimes seem ridiculous.

The New Yorker

The 100 days may seem ridiculous at first.

The New York Times

"I agree, the incongruity of these situations can seem ridiculous".

The Guardian - Arts

The offerings can seem ridiculous, if not crass.

The New York Times - Tech

That's when it does start to seem ridiculous.

The Guardian

("I'm afraid to sound too insane here," she said. "This is going to seem ridiculous").

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "seem ridiculous" when you want to express a subjective opinion that something appears absurd or unreasonable to you. Ensure the context clearly indicates whose perspective is being presented.

Common error

Avoid using "seem ridiculous" without providing context about why something appears that way. Simply stating something "seem ridiculous" without explanation can come across as dismissive or unclear. Always provide reasoning or evidence to support your assessment.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "seem ridiculous" functions as a subjective assessment, expressing that something gives the impression of being absurd, illogical, or unreasonable. It conveys a personal judgment, as demonstrated by Ludwig examples where various scenarios are deemed ridiculous by different individuals.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

61%

Science

15%

Wiki

8%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

4%

Formal & Business

2%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "seem ridiculous" serves as a subjective assessment, communicating that something appears absurd or unreasonable. According to Ludwig AI, it is grammatically correct and very common in written English. It finds frequent use in News & Media contexts, with neutral formality. Related phrases include ""appear absurd"" and "strike as preposterous". When employing "seem ridiculous", ensure that the context clarifies whose perspective is being represented and provide supporting reasons to avoid ambiguity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

appear absurd

Focuses on the appearance of absurdity, similar to "seem ridiculous".

strike as absurd

Emphasizes the immediate impression of absurdity.

appear preposterous

Highlights the outlandish or nonsensical nature of something.

strike as preposterous

Emphasizes the immediate impression of something outlandish.

appear ludicrous

Conveys a sense of foolishness or silliness.

strike as ludicrous

Emphasizes the immediate impression of foolishness.

seem laughable

Suggests something is so absurd it provokes laughter.

appear farcical

Implies something is absurd to the point of being a mockery.

seem unbelievable

Focuses on the difficulty in accepting something as true.

appear senseless

Highlights the lack of meaning or logic.

FAQs

What does it mean when something "seem ridiculous"?

When something "seem ridiculous", it means it appears absurd, illogical, or unreasonable from a particular point of view. It suggests a strong disagreement or disbelief.

How to use "seem ridiculous" in a sentence?

You can use "seem ridiculous" to express your opinion about something. For example, "The idea of traveling to Mars tomorrow may "appear absurd" to some." or "His suggestion to cut the budget by 90% "strikes me as preposterous"".

What are some alternatives to "seem ridiculous"?

You can use alternatives like ""appear absurd"", "strike as preposterous", or "appear ludicrous" depending on the context.

Is it okay to say something "seem ridiculous" in a formal setting?

While "seem ridiculous" is generally acceptable, consider using more formal alternatives like "appear untenable" or "strike as impractical" in highly formal or professional contexts to maintain a more objective tone.