lachhaft
ridiculous
So absurd, nonsensical, or inadequate that it provokes mockery or laughter; laughable.
EXAMPLE
Sein Angebot von zehn Euro für das alte Auto war einfach nur lachhaft.
His offer of ten euros for the old car was simply ridiculous.
lachhaft
ridiculous
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Meanings
Usage tips
Word formation
The word is made up of the stem of the verb 'lachen' (to laugh) and the ending '-haft'. The ending '-haft' often means 'similar to' or 'causing', so something is 'lachhaft' (ridiculous) if it makes people want to laugh, usually mockingly.
EXAMPLE
Die Idee, ohne Training einen Marathon zu laufen, ist lachhaft.
The idea of running a marathon without training is ridiculous.
Typical collocations
'Lachhaft' (ridiculous) is often used to describe things that are completely inadequate or absurd. Typical combinations are 'ein lachhaftes Angebot' (a ridiculous offer), 'eine lachhafte Summe' (a ridiculous amount), or 'eine lachhafte Ausrede' (a ridiculous excuse).
EXAMPLE
Er bot mir für mein Fahrrad 20 Euro. Das ist eine lachhafte Summe!
He offered me 20 euros for my bike. That's a ridiculous amount!
Strong negative emphasis
The word is not neutral. It expresses strong mockery and rejection. When you call something 'lachhaft' (ridiculous), you are saying that you absolutely cannot take it seriously.
EXAMPLE
Seine Drohungen sind lachhaft, niemand hat Angst vor ihm.
His threats are ridiculous; nobody is afraid of him.
Compare with
lachhaft vs lächerlich
ridiculous
Lächerlich and lachhaft can both judge something as nonsensical or inadequate, so that it provokes mockery. Lachhaft usually sounds harsher and expresses stronger disdain, while lächerlich can also describe the effect on others more neutrally. Use lachhaft for particularly strong disapproval.
lachhaft
Sein Vorschlag, die ganze Gruppe ohne Plan allein zu überzeugen, war lachhaft.
His proposal to convince the entire group on his own without a plan was laughable.
lächerlich
Sein Versuch, die ganze Gruppe allein zu überzeugen, wirkte lächerlich.
His attempt to convince the entire group on his own seemed ridiculous.
In real life
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