Definitions
01funny or amusing
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. funny in a way that makes you smile or laugh, often because it is silly or unusual.
adj. provoking laughter or amusement, typically through whimsical or absurd qualities.
“The sight of the large dog trying to fit into the tiny bed was quite comical.”
“The actor's comical expressions during the silent film sequence were enough to keep the entire audience laughing without a single line of dialogue.”
02ridiculous
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. so silly or strange that it is hard to take seriously.
adj. deserving of ridicule or laughter due to being absurd or poorly executed.
“It was comical how many mistakes they made in such a simple task.”
“The company's attempt to rebrand itself was almost comical, as the new logo looked exactly like the one they had just replaced.”
Synonyms
03relating to comedy
C1 · Advanced Theater Formal
adj. connected to the style of comedy in plays or books.
adj. pertaining to the genre or characteristics of comedy as a literary or dramatic form.
“The play was a comical masterpiece that entertained the city for months.”
“The playwright was celebrated for his comical genius, blending sharp social satire with traditional slapstick elements.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Confusables
Comic describes the genre or profession of comedy, while comical describes something that makes you laugh because it is funny or absurd.
RememberComic = The Category. Comical = The Cause of laughter.
Etymology
From Middle English comicalle, from Latin cōmicus + Middle English -alle (modern -al). By surface analysis, comic + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0