Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Laughable |
LaughableAdjective1. Completely devoid of wisdom or good sense; "the absurd excuse that the dog ate his homework"; "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". 2. 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". Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "laughable" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1596. (references) |
Synonyms: LaughableSynonyms: absurd (adj), amusing (adj), comic (adj), comical (adj), derisory (adj), funny (adj), ludicrous (adj), mirthful (adj), nonsensical (adj), preposterous (adj), ridiculous (adj), risible (adj). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Amusement | Adjective: amusing, entertaining, diverting; Verb: recreational, recreative, lusory; pleasant; (pleasing); laughable; (ludicrous); witty; fun, festive, festal; jovial, jolly, jocund, roguish, rompish; playful, playful as a kitten; sportive, ludibrious. |
Rejoicing | Laughable; (ludicrous). |
Ridiculousness | Adjective: ridiculous, ludicrous; comical; droll, funny, laughable, pour rire, grotesque, farcical, odd; whimsical, whimsical as a dancing bear; fanciful, fantastic, queer, rum, quizzical, quaint, bizarre; screaming; eccentric; (unconformable); strange, outlandish, out of the way, baroque, weird; awkward; (ugly). |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
Crosswords: Laughable |
| English words defined with "laughable": amusing ♦ comic, comical ♦ funny ♦ mirthful, misused ♦ risible ♦ The five wits. (references) |
| Domain | Usage | |
Movie/TV Titles | A Very Laughable Mixup (1898) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title |
Books | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Play | Caption |
 | Goofy; guffaw; daffy; dippy; fool; foolish; idiotic; inane; irrational; nonsensical; jokey; joshing; kooky; laughable; loony; ludicrous; nutty; senseless; silly; stupid; tomfool; wacky;; absurd; batty; boffo; comic; comical; facetious; farcical; foolheade. |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Author | Quotation |
Goethe | Men show their character in nothing more clearly than what they think laughable. |
Samuel Johnson | Why, Sir, most schemes of political improvement are very laughable things. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| "Laughable" is generally used as an adjective (general or positive) -- approximately 97.48% of the time. "Laughable" is used about 119 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Adjective (general or positive) | 97.48% | 116 | 29,969 |
| Noun (proper) | 2.52% | 3 | 202,518 |
| Total | 100.00% | 119 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
Expression using "laughable": comic comical funny laughable risible. Additional references. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Expression | Frequency per Day |
laughable lawsuit | 11 |
laughable | 2 |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Language | Translations for "laughable"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Albanian | qesharak (absurd, buffo, comic, comical, derisive, farcical, foolish, funny, ludicrous, preposterous, ridiculous, risible), për të qeshur (comic, comical, hilarious, humorous). (various references) | |
Arabic | مضحك (buffoon, burlesque, clown, comedian, comic, comical, comics, droll, farcical, foolish, funny, harlequin, humorous, jester, laughing, ludicrous, merry andrew, ridiculous, risible, silly, wag), مثير للضحك (preposterous), نكتي, ساخر (biting, bitter, cutting, cynic, cynical, derisive, derisory, epigram, giber, ironic, ironical, irradiant, lampooner, lampoonist, persiflage, quizzical, sarcastic, sardonic, saturnine, sneerer, snide, tongue in cheek, wry). (various references) | |
Bulgarian | смешен (amusing, comic, comical, derisive, derisory, farcical, foolish, funny, laughing, ludicrous, quizzical, ridiculous, risible, screwy), забавен (amusing, comic, comical, delayed, diverting, entertaining, funny, interesting, merry, recreational, recreative, sportful). (various references) | |
Chinese | 可笑 . (various references) | |
Czech | smìšný (antic, derisory, facetious, funny, humorous, ludicrous, piffling, quizzical, ridiculous, risible), absurdní (absurd, farcical, preposterous, senseless, tomfool). (various references) | |
Farsi | مضحک (Absurd, Burlesque, Comic, Droll, Grotesque, Hilarious, Ludicrous, Preposterous, Ridiculous), خنده دار (Comic, Gig, Hilarious, Queer, Ridiculous, Waggish). (various references) | |
French | ridicule (laughing), dérisoire. (various references) | |
German | lächerlich (absurd, comical, farcical, foolish, funny, idiotically, laughably, ludicrous, ludicrously, petty, piddling, preposterous, ridiculous, ridiculously, risible, trivial), ulkig (comical, funny, odd, peculiar). (various references) | |
Greek | γελοίοσ (clownish, derisive, farcical, ludicrous, ridiculous, risible). (various references) | |
Hebrew | מעורר צחוק, מצחיק (amusing, comic, comical, droll, funny, humorous, ludicrous, ridiculous), לע' (ludicrous, ridiculous). (various references) | |
Hungarian | nevetséges (absurd, comic, comical, farcical, foolish, ludicrous, mummery, ridiculous, risible, undignified). (various references) | |
Indonesian | menggelikan (ridiculous, tickle). (various references) | |
Italian | ridicolo (absurd, antic, comic, comical, ludicrous, paltry, preposterous, ridicule, ridiculous, ridiculousness, risible, silly), comico (comedian, comic, comical, freaky, funniness, funny, ludicrous), buffo (buffo, comic, comical, droll, funny, puff, zany). (various references) | |
Japanese Kanji | 笑止 (absurdity, contemptible, pitiful, ridiculous), 人笑わせ (ridiculous), 滑稽 (comical, funny, humorous, joking, ridiculous). (various references) | |
Japanese Katakana | しょうし (absurdity, boatman, contemptible, crystallite, death by fire, eulogy, low birth rate, midnight, officers and men, paper making, pitiful, praise, ridiculous, short or concise history, stamp), ひとわらわせ (ridiculous), "っけい (comical, funny, humorous, joking, National day, ridiculous, severe punishment). (various references) | |
Korean | 우스운. (various references) | |
Manx | garaghtagh (laughing). (various references) | |
Norwegian | latterlig (ludicrous). (various references) | |
Pig Latin | aughablelay.(various references) | |
Portuguese | risível (funny, ridiculous, risible), ridículo (apish, awful, comic, comical, derisive, derisory, extravagant, farcical, foolish, irony, ludicrous, preposterous, quizzical, ragtime, ridicule, ridiculous, risible, satire), divertido (amused, amusing, canty, diverting, droll, enjoyable, entertaining, frolicsome, funny, gamy, gay, hilarious, jolly, larksome, merry, mirthful, playful, screaming, sportful, sportive, waggish), cômico (bouffe, buffo, comedian, comic, comical, funny, waggish), burlesco (burlesque, comic, comical, doggerel, facetious, farcical, ludicrous, mock, quizzical, ridiculous, simulated). (various references) | |
Romanian | ridicol (clownish, derisive, farcical, foolish, grotesque, humorous, laughably, ludicrous, preposterous, ridicule, ridiculous, ridiculously, risible), hazliu (amusing, comic, droll, entertaining, funny, gamesome, humorous, waggish), amuzant (amusing, as good as a play, diverting, droll, entertaining, funny, jocular, light, quaint). (various references) | |
Russian | смехотворный (comic, comical, derisive, derisory, ludicrous, ragtime, ridiculous, risible), смешной (amusing, comic, comical, farcical, funny, humorous, jokey, laughing, ludicrous, merry, risible). (various references) | |
Serbo-Croatian | smešan (amusing, comical, droll, funny, hilarious, ludicrous, rich, ridicule, ridiculous). (various references) | |
Spanish | risible (risible), cómico (amusing, comedian, comic, comical, entertaining, funny, humorous, player, zany). (various references) | |
Swedish | skrattretande (comical, ludicrous, ridiculous, risible). (various references) | |
Thai | น่าขัน (ridiculous). (various references) | |
Turkish | tuhaf (antic, bizarre, comical, cranky, curious, droll, erratic, flaky, funnily, funny, funny peculiar, odd, offbeat, peculiar, peregrine, queer, quizzical, rum, rummy, screwball, screwy, singular, splay, strange, twee, unaccustomed, uncouth, unusual, weird, whimsical), komik (amusing, burlesque, comedian, comic, comical, droll, farcical, funny, funnyman, gilbertian, humorous, jesting, jocose, laugh, laughing, ludicrous, quizzical, rich, ridiculous, risible, rum, rummy), gülünecek (funny, risible), gülünç (amusing, burlesque, camp, comic, derisive, derisory, droll, fantastic, fantastical, foolish, funny, gilbertian, grotesque, humorous, jesting, ludicrous, ridiculous). (various references) | |
Ukrainian | смішний (amusing, boffo, capricious, comic, comical, droll, funny, ludicrous, risible, zany), кумедний (amusing, funny, killing, priceless, side-splitting, zany). (various references) | |
Vietnamese | tức cười (ridiculous), nực cười. (various references) | |
Welsh | chwerthinllyd (ridiculous). (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
| Language | Period | Translations |
| Latin | 500 BCE-Modern | inconcinnus, ridiculi, ridiculosus, ridiculus. (various references) |
| Late Latin | 300-700 | risibilis. (various references) |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "laughable": laughableness, laughablenesses. (additional references) | |
| |
"Laughable" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: Loughbeg, Olawale. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "laughable" (pronounced la"fubul) |
| 6 | -a" f u b u l | affable. |
| 5 | -f u b u l | ineffable. |
| 4 | -u b u l | incurable, indefatigable, indefensible, indefinable, indelible, indescribable, indestructible, indispensable, indisputable, indistinguishable, indivisible, indomitable, inedible, ineligible, inequitable, inescapable, inevitable, inexcusable, inexhaustible, inexorable, inexplicable, infallible, infeasible, inflammable, inflatable, acceptable, accessible, abominable, accountable, achievable, actionable, adaptable, addressable, adjustable, admirable, admissible, adoptable, adorable, advisable, affordable, agreeable, allowable, amenable, amendable, amiable, amicable, analyzable, answerable, appealable, applicable, appreciable, approachable, approvable, arable, arguable, attainable, attributable, audible, available, avoidable, bankable, bearable, believable, billable, biodegradable, breakable, buildable, burnable, callable, cannibal, capable, changeable, chargeable, charitable, classifiable, collapsible, collectible, Combinable, comfortable, commendable, communicable, comparable, compatible, compensable, comprehensible, conceivable, confirmable, considerable, constable, consumable, contemptible, contestable, controllable, convertible, copyrightable, countable, credible, creditable, crucible, culpable, curable, debatable, deductible, defensible, definable, degradable, delectable, deliverable, demonstrable, dependable, deplorable, deployable, depreciable, describable, desirable, despicable, detachable, detectable, determinable, developable, digestible, disagreeable, discernible, discountable, discoverable, dishonorable, dispensable, disposable, disreputable, distinguishable, divisible, doable, drinkable, drivable, durable, eatable, edible, electable, eligible, Embraceable, employable, enforceable, enjoyable, enviable, equable, equitable, erasable, erodible, estimable, exchangeable, excitable, excludable, excusable, execrable, exercisable, expandable, expendable, explainable, exportable, extendable, extendible, fallible, fashionable, fathomable, favorable, feasible, fissionable, fixable, flammable, flexible, forcible, foreseeable, forfeitable, forgettable, forgivable, formidable, fungible, fusible, gullible, habitable, harvestable, heritable, hon, honorable, horrible, hospitable, identifiable, illegible, imaginable, imitable, immiscible, immovable, immutable, impassable, impeachable, impeccable, impenetrable, imperceptible, impermissible, implacable, implantable, implausible, imponderable, impossible, impracticable, impregnable, impressionable, improbable, inaccessible, inadmissible, inadvisable, inalienable, inapplicable, inaudible, incalculable, incapable, incomparable, incompatible, incomprehensible, incompressible, inconceivable, incontrovertible, incorrigible, incredible, soluble, solvable, spendable, submersible, suggestible, suitable, supportable, survivable, susceptible, sustainable, syllable, talkable, tangible, taxable, teachable, tenable, terrible, inflexible, inheritable, inhospitable, inimitable, injectable, innumerable, inoperable, insatiable, inscrutable, inseparable, insoluble, insufferable, insupportable, insurmountable, intangible, intelligible, interchangeable, interminable, interruptible, intolerable, intractable, invaluable, investable, invincible, inviolable, invisible, invulnerable, irascible, irreconcilable, irrefutable, irremediable, irreparable, irreplaceable, irrepressible, irresistible, irresponsible, irreversible, irrevocable, irritable, issuable, justifiable, knowledgeable, lamentable, laudable, leasable, legible, liable, likable, likeable, livable, lovable, malleable, manageable, mandible, maneuverable, marketable, measurable, memorable, microwavable, miscible, miserable, moldable, movable, navigable, negligible, negotiable, noncallable, nonconvertible, nondeductible, nondurable, nonrefundable, nonrenewable, nontaxable, nontransferable, notable, noticeable, objectionable, observable, obtainable, operable, ostensible, palatable, palpable, parable, passable, patentable, payable, peaceable, perceptible, perishable, permeable, permissible, personable, persuadable, pitiable, plausible, pleasurable, pliable, portable, possible, potable, practicable, predictable, preferable, presentable, preventable, printable, probable, profitable, programmable, prosecutable, provable, punishable, questionable, quotable, reachable, readable, realizable, reasonable, receivable, rechargeable, recognizable, recordable, recoverable, recyclable, redeemable, redoubtable, reducible, refundable, regrettable, reliable, remarkable, removable, renewable, rentable, repairable, repayable, repeatable, replaceable, reportable, reprehensible, reputable, resealable, resettable, respectable, responsible, retractable, returnable, reusable, reversible, revocable, ridable, salable, saleable, salvageable, seasonable, sensible, serviceable, sizable, sizeable, sociable, tolerable, traceable, tractable, tradable, tradeable, trainable, transferable, transferrable, transmittable, transportable, treatable, tunable, typeable, unacceptable, unaccountable, unaffordable, unalienable, unalterable, unanswerable, unassailable, unattainable, unavailable, unavoidable, unbearable, unbeatable, unbelievable, unbuildable, uncollectible, uncomfortable, unconscionable, uncontrollable, undeniable, understandable, undesirable, undetectable, unelectable, unemployable, unenforceable, unenviable, unexplainable, unfashionable, unfathomable, unfavorable, unfeasible, unflappable, unforeseeable, unforgettable, unforgivable, ungovernable, unimaginable, unimpeachable, uninhabitable, uninsurable, unintelligible, unjustifiable, unknowable, unlivable, unmanageable, unmentionable, unmistakable, unobtainable, unpalatable, unpredictable, unprintable, unprofitable, unquestionable, unreachable, unreadable, unreasonable, unrecognizable, unreliable, unremarkable, unsalable, unshakable, unsinkable, unsolvable, unspeakable, unstoppable, unsuitable, unsupportable, unsustainable, untenable, unthinkable, untouchable, untraceable, unusable, unverifiable, unwinnable, unworkable, usable, variable, vegetable, venerable, verifiable, veritable, viable, visible, voluble, vulnerable, washable, wearable, winnable, workable. |
| 3 | -b u l | able, amble, assemble, babble, Babel, bauble, bible, bramble, bubble, Bumble, cable, cobble, coble, corbel, crumble, cymbal, dabble, Dibble, disable, disassemble, dissemble, double, Drabble, dribble, enable, enfeeble, ennoble, ensemble, fable, feeble, foible, fumble, gable, gamble, Garble, global, gobble, Gribble, grumble, hardscrabble, herbal, hobble, humble, ignoble, immeasurable, immobile, squabble, Stabile, stable, stubble, stumble, symbol, table, intertribal, jumble, kibble, label, libel, marble, mislabel, mobile, mumble, nibble, nimble, noble, nonverbal, pebble, preamble, psychobabble, quibble, rabble, ramble, reassemble, rebel, redouble, relabel, resemble, Roble, rouble, roundtable, rubble, Ruble, rumble, sable, Scrabble, scramble, scribble, shamble, Sibyl, thimble, timetable, treble, tremble, tribal, trouble, tubal, tumble, turntable, umbel, unable, unscramble, unserviceable, unstable, valuable, verbal, wamble, wobble. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "a-a-b-e-g-h-l-l-u" | |
-2 letters: haulage. | |
-3 letters: alulae, begall, beluga, bullae, ullage. | |
-4 letters: ahull, algae, algal, alula, bagel, belga, bugle, bulge, bulla, gable, galah, galea, gleba, label, laugh, legal, lehua. | |
-5 letters: able, agha, ague, alae, alba, alga, baal, bale, ball, beau, bell, blae, blah, blue, buhl, bull, egal, gala, gale, gall, glue, gull, habu, hale, hall, haul, heal, hell. | |
| Words containing the letters "a-a-b-e-g-h-l-l-u" | |
+4 letters: laughableness. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Modern | 5. Usage: Commercial 6. Sounds 7. Quotations: Familiar 8. Usage Frequency | 9. Expressions 10. Expressions: Internet 11. Translations: Modern 12. Translations: Ancient | 13. Derivations 14. Rhymes 15. Anagrams 16. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
