What's the difference between "ridiculous" and "absurd"? Are they interchangeable?
Native speaker’s answer
Rebecca
"Ridiculous" and "absurd" have very similar meanings and can often be used interchangeably, however, their nuances differ slightly. "Absurd" has a little bit more of a stronger implication than "ridiculous" as it refers to something which is totally unreasonable. "Absurd" also sounds much more formal. "Ridiculous" is more common to use because it can be used more casually and the meaning is not as strong as "absurd", as it can also refer to something which is silly or goofy. Ex: That hat is ridiculous! Ex: His decision to get a divorce was absurd.