hilarious

1 of 2

adjective

hi·​lar·​i·​ous hi-ˈler-ē-əs How to pronounce hilarious (audio)
hī-
Synonyms of hilarious
: marked by or causing hilarity : extremely funny
hilariously adverb
hilariousness noun

hilariousness

2 of 2

noun

hi·​lar·​i·​ous·​ness
plural -es
: hilarity

Synonyms of hilarious

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Adjective

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Examples of hilarious in a Sentence

Adjective Raymond is different, so well written and acted, so perfectly pitched, that even the silences, especially the silences, are hilarious. It makes comedy look easy. —James Morris, Wilson Quarterly, Autumn 2005
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Tim Burton's adaptation of Roald Dahl's beloved (by children) and reviled (by critics and librarians) book, is quirky, well acted, often hilarious, and visually sumptuous, but don't go to it expecting sweetness in anything except the title. —Richard Alleva, Commonweal, 12 Aug. 2005
In fairness, McEnroe does have genuine passion for the game, and his willingness to take on the sport's sacred cows is admirable. His candor and hilarious random ruminations as an analyst make even the most lopsided matches worth watching. —Jon Wertheim, Sports Illustrated, 17 Sept. 2001
Since his material is genuinely funny, at times hilarious, it makes for a smashing use of audio as a unique entertainment medium. Sedaris has an unexpectedly high-pitched voice that comes across as majorly mischievous in its delivery … —Publishers Weekly, 5 May 1997
Some people don't like his comedy, but I think he's hilarious. She gave us a hilarious account of her first days as a teacher.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
The story on the front page in Thursday's paper--at the very top, above the fold, butting up against the date--was hilarious, if unintentionally so. — Arkansas Online, 24 Oct. 2026 Lane also shared Eastwood’s hilarious quip after meeting him in drag. — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2026 The rush from the other 29 teams to acquire him would be quite literally hilarious, because trading Ohtani would be an act of financial suicide for LA and a massive windfall for a new team. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026 Beyond that, this hilarious, heartfelt two-hander is a strong best-picture contender, and Malkovich, who took the Venice Film Festival’s Volpi Cup for best actor, is also a frontrunner for his charming, slippery turn. — Radhika Seth, Vogue, 23 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hilarious

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

irregular from Latin hilarus, hilaris cheerful, from Greek hilaros

First Known Use

Adjective

1925, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hilarious was in 1925

Rhymes for hilarious

See All Rhymes for hilarious

Browse Nearby Words

Hilaria
hilarious
hilariously
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Cite this Entry

“Hilarious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hilarious. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

hilarious

adjective
hi·​lar·​i·​ous hil-ˈar-ē-əs How to pronounce hilarious (audio)
-ˈer-;
hī-ˈlar-, 
-ˈler-
: causing hilarity : wildly funny
hilariously adverb
hilariousness noun
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