Cool MateRidiculous vs This is nonsense
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Ridiculous
Top 1,000 (very common)B2adjective
This is nonsense
InformalTop 5,000 (fairly common)
Most formal: RidiculousMost common: Ridiculous
| Ridiculous | This is nonsense | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈdɪkjələs/","/rɪˈdɪk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈdɪkjələs/","/rɪˈdɪk/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðɪs ɪz ˈnɒnsəns//🇺🇸 //ðɪs ɪz ˈnɑːnsɛns// |
| Meaning | Very silly or unreasonable; hard to believe. | This is silly or lacks meaning. |
| Example | I look ridiculous in this hat. | When he said the earth is flat, I replied, 'This is nonsense.' |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, really, absolutely, completely, a sense of the ridiculous | utter nonsense, complete nonsense, absolute nonsense |
| Antonyms | reasonable, sensible, logical | - |
| Common mistakes | 'Ridiculous' is often confused with 'ridicule' which means to mock or make fun of., Some learners use 'ridiculous' to describe something that is merely unusual, rather than absurd., Confusing 'ridiculous' with 'absurd' – while they are similar, 'absurd' may imply a deeper philosophical meaning. | Using it in formal settings where a more polite expression is needed., Confusing it with 'This makes no sense,' which is more about clarity. |
| Usage notes | Use 'ridiculous' to express disbelief or to criticize something as absurd. It can be used in both formal and informal settings, but avoid it in very serious contexts. | Used in casual conversation to express disbelief or frustration about something that seems illogical or unreasonable. |
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Frequently asked questions: Ridiculous vs This is nonsense
What's the difference between Ridiculous and This is nonsense?
Ridiculous: Very silly or unreasonable; hard to believe. This is nonsense: This is silly or lacks meaning.
Which is more formal: Ridiculous and This is nonsense?
Ridiculous is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Ridiculous and This is nonsense?
Ridiculous is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Ridiculous: I look ridiculous in this hat. This is nonsense: When he said the earth is flat, I replied, 'This is nonsense.'
Can I use Ridiculous and This is nonsense interchangeably?
Not always. Ridiculous and This is nonsense are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.