Farcical Meaning
/ˈfɑː(ɹ)sɪkəl/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjResembling a farce; ludicrous; absurd.
adjPertaining to farcy.
Sentence Examples
He made a farcical attempt to save face during the fallout of his sex scandal.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The meeting turned ____ when the CEO arrived dressed as a giant chicken.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The situation became ____ when the clown's car broke down in the middle of a serious parade.
Word Origin & History
From farce + -ical, after comical etc.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"A closer look at North Korean history reveals what Pyongyang’s leaders really want their near-farcical belligerence to achieve — a reminder to the world that North Korea exists, and an impression abroad that its leaders are irrational and unpredictable."
— 2013 April 9, Andrei Lankov, “Stay Cool. Call North Korea's Bluff.”, in New York Times:
"In August the generals won approval for the document in a referendum made farcical by a law which forbade campaigners from criticising the text."
— 2017 January 14, “Thailand's new king rejects the army's proposed constitution”, in The Economist:
"An inquiry into lockdown parties in Downing Street, which could determine the fate of Boris Johnson, is expected to lay bare a “farcical” culture of drinking and impromptu socialising, with little oversight from senior officials, the Guardian understands."
— 2022 January 13, Rajeev Syal et al., “No 10 party inquiry will reveal ‘farcical’ culture, say Whitehall sources”, in The Guardian:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The meeting turned ____ when the CEO arrived dressed as a giant chicken.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The situation became ____ when the clown's car broke down in the middle of a serious parade.