laughable

IPA/ˈlɑːfəbl/
KK[lˈæfəbəl]IPA/ˈlæfəbl/

laughable — adjective

  • laughablepositive
  • more laughablecomparative
  • most laughablesuperlative

1. If an idea, excuse, or situation is laughable, it is so foolish or unreasonable

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

If an idea, excuse, or situation is laughable, it is so foolish or unreasonable that people mock it instead of treating it as important.

Example

The mayor's plan to fix traffic with one extra bus sounded laughable.

sound + laughable about a public plan

Hiro gave a laughable excuse about the broken vase and nobody believed him.

laughable + excuse

Common collocations
  • laughable excuse
  • laughable claim
  • laughable idea
  • laughable promise
  • laughable fee
  • laughable price
  • laughable attempt
Synonyms
  • ridiculous

    More common in everyday speech and often broader than laughable.

  • absurd

    Stresses that something goes against logic or common sense.

  • silly

    Milder and often used for childish behavior rather than sharp criticism.

  • comical

    Focuses more on looking funny than on being a weak idea or excuse.

Antonyms
  • serious

    Describes something that deserves careful attention.

  • reasonable

    Shows good sense rather than inviting mockery.

  • convincing

    Believable enough to accept or trust.

Grammar Patterns

subject + be + laughable

subject + seem/sound + laughable

find + object + laughable

laughable + noun

Usage Note

Often used for excuses, claims, prices, and promises that people dismiss at once. Common after seem, sound, and find + object + laughable, and before nouns such as excuse or claim.

Common Mistakes

The plan sounded laughably.
The plan sounded laughable.
After sound, use the adjective laughable, not the adverb laughably.
The joke was laughable and everyone enjoyed it.
The joke was funny and everyone enjoyed it.
laughable is usually critical, meaning the joke seems weak or foolish rather than simply enjoyable.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

These words all suggest that something should not be taken seriously, but they do not criticize in the same way. Laughable emphasizes the reaction of mockery: the idea, excuse, or promise is so weak that people laugh at it. Ridiculous is the broad everyday choice for something that seems foolish or embarrassing. Absurd focuses more on logic and common sense, especially when a claim sounds impossible or self-contradictory. Silly is milder and often used for childish behavior or small mistakes. Comical usually describes the way a person or scene looks or sounds funny, not a serious claim that deserves dismissal. A laughable excuse may sound ridiculous, but a comical hat is usually just funny to look at.

ridiculous ↗absurd ↗silly ↗comical ↗

Etymology

English

Laughable was formed in English from the verb laugh and the suffix -able. Its basic idea is 'fit to be laughed at'. Over time, it came to describe ideas, excuses, and situations that seem so foolish or unrealistic that people respond with mockery instead of respect.