Comic — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective noun /ˈkä-mik/ com·ic

Meaning & Definition of Comic

Comic (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or marked by comedy
  2. causing laughter or amusement, funny
  3. of or relating to comic strips

Comic (noun)

  1. comedian
  2. the comic element
  3. comic strip

Comic (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor

    "a well-known TV comic"

    similar: card, comedian, droll, farceur, funnyman, gagger, gagman, gagster, humorist, jester, joker, jokester, wag, wit
    related: comedienne, entertainer, banterer, cutup, kidder, knockabout, practical joker, prankster, quipper, quipster, teaser, wisecracker, buffoon, clown, fool, harlequin, zany, caricaturist, lampooner, parodist, satirist

  2. a series of drawings that tell a story or part of a story

    "posted an especially funny comic by the watercooler"

    similar: cartoon, comic strip, funny, strip
    related: comic book, funny paper(s), graphic novel, animated cartoon, animation, caricature

  3. the amusing quality or element in something

    "a celebrated humorist who, without fail, could find the comic in even the most mundane of situations"

    similar: comedy, comicality, drollery, drollness, funniness, hilariousness, humor, humorousness, richness, uproariousness
    related: amusement, enjoyment, fun, pleasure, absurdity, irony, laughableness, ludicrousness, ridiculousness, whimsicality, wittiness, wryness, burlesque, caricature, farce, jest, lampoon, parody, satire, slapstick, spoof, takeoff, jocularity, jokiness, playfulness, waggishness
    opposite: pathos
    near: agony, anguish, dolor, grief, heartache, heartbreak, misery, sorrow, torment, torture, tribulation, woe, gravity, seriousness, soberness, solemnity, solemnness, somberness

Comic (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. causing or intended to cause laughter

    "a comic monologue about his misadventures as a first-time camper"

    similar: antic, chucklesome, comedic, comical, droll, farcical, funny, hilarious, humoristic, humorous, hysterical, killing, laughable, ludicrous, ridiculous, riotous, risible, screaming, sidesplitting, uproarious
    related: amusing, diverting, entertaining, clownish, knockabout, slapstick, slapsticky, zany, facetious, flip, flippant, pert, smart, smart-aleck, smart-alecky, snickery, jocular, playful, waggish, campy, jokey, priceless, rich, whimsical, witty, wry, blithesome, gleeful, jocose, jocund, jolly, jovial, laughing, mad, merry, mirthful
    opposite: humorless, lame, unamusing, uncomic, unfunny, unhumorous, unhysterical
    near: earnest, grave, no-nonsense, sedate, serious, severe, sober, sobersided, solemn, somber, staid, unsmiling, weighty, affecting, moving, poignant, touching, tragic, lachrymose, mournful, sad, sorrowful, tearful, woeful

Related Entry: Comic strip (noun)

Comic strip is a different word from Comic. The synonyms below are for comic strip, not for comic.

  1. a series of drawings that tell a story or part of a story

    "a comic strip that is beloved by both children and adults"

    similar: cartoon, comic, funny, strip
    related: comic book, funny paper(s), graphic novel, animated cartoon, animation, caricature

Related Entry: Comic book (noun)

Comic book is a different word from Comic. The synonyms below are for comic book, not for comic.

  1. as in graphic novel, funny paper(s)

    similar: funny paper(s), graphic novel, cartoon, comic, comic strip, funny, strip, animated cartoon, animation, caricature

  2. as in album, picture book

    similar: album, almanac, anthology, casebook, chapbook, omnibus, picture book, novel, novelette, pulp, composition, number, opus, piece, work, monograph, primer, text, textbook, tract, treatise, collectanea, compendium, compilation, florilegium, miscellany, reader, cyclopedia, dictionary, encyclopedia, brochure, circular, flyer, folder, leaflet, pamphlet, guidebook, handbook, how-to, instructions, manual, dodger, flysheet, handbill, handout, throwaway, folio, quarto

Related Entry: Comic books (noun)

Comic books is a different word from Comic. The synonyms below are for comic books, not for comic.

  1. as in graphic novels, funny papers

    similar: funny papers, graphic novels, cartoons, comics, comic strips, funnies, strips, animated cartoons, animations, caricatures

  2. as in albums, picture books

    similar: albums, almanacs, anthologies, casebooks, chapbooks, omnibuses, picture books, novelettes, novels, pulps, compositions, numbers, opera, pieces, works, monographs, primers, textbooks, texts, tracts, treatises, compendiums, compilations, florilegia, miscellanies, readers, cyclopedias, dictionaries, encyclopedias, brochures, circulars, flyers, folders, leaflets, pamphlets, guidebooks, handbooks, how-tos, instructions, manuals, dodgers, flysheets, handbills, handouts, throwaways, folios, quartos

Related Entry: Comic strips (noun)

Comic strips is a different word from Comic. The synonyms below are for comic strips, not for comic.

  1. a series of drawings that tell a story or part of a story

    "a comic strip that is beloved by both children and adults"

    similar: cartoons, comics, funnies, strips
    related: comic books, funny papers, graphic novels, animated cartoons, animations, caricatures

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Comic

The most common words with a similar meaning to Comic:

card, comedian, droll, farceur, funnyman, gagger, gagman, gagster, humorist, jester, joker, jokester, wag, wit, cartoon, comic strip, funny, strip, comedy, comicality, drollery, drollness, funniness, hilariousness, humor, humorousness, richness, uproariousness, antic, chucklesome, comedic, comical, farcical, hilarious, humoristic, humorous, hysterical, killing, laughable, ludicrous

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Comic

Words with the opposite meaning of Comic:

pathos, humorless, lame, unamusing, uncomic, unfunny, unhumorous, unhysterical

Related Words for Comic

comedienne, entertainer, banterer, cutup, kidder, knockabout, practical joker, prankster, quipper, quipster, teaser, wisecracker, buffoon, clown, fool, harlequin, zany, caricaturist, lampooner, parodist, satirist, comic book, funny paper(s), graphic novel, animated cartoon, animation, caricature, amusement, enjoyment, fun

Near Antonyms of Comic

agony, anguish, dolor, grief, heartache, heartbreak, misery, sorrow, torment, torture, tribulation, woe, gravity, seriousness, soberness, solemnity, solemnness, somberness, earnest, grave, no-nonsense, sedate, serious, severe, sober, sobersided, solemn, somber, staid, unsmiling

Origin & Etymology of Comic

Latin comicus, from Greek kōmikos, from kōmos revel

First known use: 1567

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Comic

Words & Phrases Containing Comic

comic book, comic-opera, comic opera, comic relief, comic strip

Frequently Asked Questions about Comic

What does "Comic" mean?

"Comic" means of, relating to, or marked by comedy. As an an adjective and a noun, it is defined as: of, relating to, or marked by comedy. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Comic"?

Other words for "Comic" include card, comedian, droll, farceur, funnyman, gagger, gagman and gagster. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Comic" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Comic"?

There are 131 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Comic". Common alternatives include card, comedian, droll, farceur, funnyman, gagger, gagman, gagster, humorist and jester.

What is the opposite of "Comic"?

Antonyms of "Comic" include pathos, humorless, lame, unamusing, uncomic, unfunny, unhumorous and unhysterical. Near antonyms include agony, anguish, dolor and grief.

How do you use "Comic" in a sentence?

Examples of "Comic" in a sentence: "a well-known TV comic"; "posted an especially funny comic by the watercooler"; "a celebrated humorist who, without fail, could find the comic in even the most mundane of situations".

Is "Comic" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Comic" can be used as an adjective and a noun, depending on the context.

Is "Comic" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Comic" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Comic"?

"Comic" is pronounced /ˈkä-mik/ and divided into syllables as com·ic.