ENGLISH
REFERENCE

comical

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈkɑmɪkəɫ// UK //kˈɒmɪkəl// com·i·cal Archaic

adj. funny in a strange or silly way. You use this when something makes you laugh because it looks or sounds ridiculous.

adj. causing laughter or amusement, often through absurdity or oddity. Frequently describes visual situations or physical behavior.


SIMPLE

The dog looked comical in its tiny winter sweater.

CONTEXTUAL

His attempt to carry five cups of coffee at once was comical until he actually tripped.

COMPLEX

The play's success relied on the comical contrast between the serious, high-stakes plot and the lead actor's clumsy, exaggerated movements.

Synonyms
Origin

From Middle English comicalle, from Latin cōmicus + Middle English -alle (modern -al). By surface analysis, comic + -al.

Usage

Often used to describe situations, appearances, or behavior rather than jokes or stories.

Pitfall

The movie was very comic.The movie was very comical.While 'comic' is usually used as a noun or to describe a professional style (comic actor), 'comical' is the preferred adjective for something that is funny or amusing in general.

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