Cool MateRidiculous vs That was so crazy
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Ridiculous
Top 1,000 (very common)B2adjective
That was so crazy
InformalTop 2,000 (common)
Most formal: RidiculousMost common: Ridiculous
| Ridiculous | That was so crazy | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/rɪˈdɪkjələs/","/rɪˈdɪk/"]/🇺🇸 /["/rɪˈdɪkjələs/","/rɪˈdɪk/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ðæt wəz səʊ ˈkreɪ.zi//🇺🇸 //ðæt wəz soʊ ˈkreɪ.zi// |
| Meaning | Very silly or unreasonable; hard to believe. | Something very surprising or difficult to believe. |
| Example | I look ridiculous in this hat. | Did you see that circus performance? That was so crazy! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, feel, look, really, absolutely, completely, a sense of the ridiculous | so crazy funny, that was so crazy fun, that was so crazy unexpected |
| 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 'crazy' to describe serious issues, which can be seen as insensitive., Misusing 'that' when referring to less specific situations., Using it in overly formal situations, which sounds unnatural. |
| 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 conversations to express disbelief or astonishment about a situation. Avoid in formal or academic contexts. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: Ridiculous vs That was so crazy
What's the difference between Ridiculous and That was so crazy?
Ridiculous: Very silly or unreasonable; hard to believe. That was so crazy: Something very surprising or difficult to believe.
Which is more formal: Ridiculous and That was so crazy?
Ridiculous is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Ridiculous and That was so crazy?
Ridiculous is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Ridiculous: I look ridiculous in this hat. That was so crazy: Did you see that circus performance? That was so crazy!
Can I use Ridiculous and That was so crazy interchangeably?
Not always. Ridiculous and That was so crazy 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.