Which word means laughable or ridiculous; something not deserving of serious attention?

Which word means laughable or ridiculous; something not deserving of serious attention?

• A. Risible
• B. Hilarious
• C. Comical
• D. Absurd

Answer: (A)

Think about a word that directly conveys something that provokes laughter because it’s so silly or ridiculous that you wouldn’t take it seriously. Risibile fits this sense best. It literally describes something capable of eliciting laughter and often implies that, in the context, it isn’t worthy of serious consideration. Hilarious is about something extremely funny and usually worth laughing about in a positive way, not about mockery or dismissiveness. Comical also suggests humorous or amusing qualities, sometimes odd or quaint, but again it doesn’t inherently carry the sense of something not deserving of serious attention. Absurd points to something wildly illogical or unreasonable and can be ridiculous, but the focus is more on the illogical nature than on provoking laughter or dismissiveness. So the best choice captures the exact nuance: laughable and not meant to be taken seriously.

Think about a word that directly conveys something that provokes laughter because it’s so silly or ridiculous that you wouldn’t take it seriously. Risibile fits this sense best. It literally describes something capable of eliciting laughter and often implies that, in the context, it isn’t worthy of serious consideration.

Hilarious is about something extremely funny and usually worth laughing about in a positive way, not about mockery or dismissiveness. Comical also suggests humorous or amusing qualities, sometimes odd or quaint, but again it doesn’t inherently carry the sense of something not deserving of serious attention. Absurd points to something wildly illogical or unreasonable and can be ridiculous, but the focus is more on the illogical nature than on provoking laughter or dismissiveness.

So the best choice captures the exact nuance: laughable and not meant to be taken seriously.