ridiculousness / absurdity
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ridiculousness
The quality of being ridiculous, absurd, or unintentionally comical and provoking mockery.
Die Lächerlichkeit seiner Ausrede war für alle offensichtlich.
The ridiculousness of his excuse was obvious to everyone.
to expose to ridicule
To deliberately present someone or something in such a way that they or it is mocked and no longer taken seriously.
Mit seiner unüberlegten Kritik gab er nicht nur das Projekt, sondern auch sich selbst der Lächerlichkeit preis.
With his ill-considered criticism, he exposed not only the project but also himself to ridicule.
'Lächerlichkeit' (ridiculousness) is a noun derived from the adjective 'lächerlich' (ridiculous). The ending '-keit' is often used to form feminine nouns from adjectives that describe a quality or state.
Die Ernsthaftigkeit der Situation stand im Kontrast zur Lächerlichkeit seiner Kleidung.
The seriousness of the situation contrasted with the ridiculousness of his clothing.
The word is very often used with a genitive attribute or the preposition 'von' (of/from) to specify exactly what is ridiculous.
Die Lächerlichkeit der Situation wurde allen bewusst.
The ridiculousness of the situation became clear to everyone.
The expression 'jemanden/etwas der Lächerlichkeit preisgeben' (to expose someone/something to ridicule) is a fixed idiom. It means to deliberately expose a person or thing to mockery. The object being mocked is in the accusative.
Durch seine ungeschickte Präsentation gab er die ganze Idee der Lächerlichkeit preis.
Through his awkward presentation, he exposed the whole idea to ridicule.
comedy / comic quality
The comic quality of a serious performance is its funny or unintentionally comical effect, without necessarily implying any disparagement. Lächerlichkeit (ridiculousness), by contrast, emphasizes that the performance seems absurd, provokes mockery, and is no longer taken seriously.
Die maßlose Übertreibung gab dem ernsten Auftritt eine unfreiwillige Lächerlichkeit.
The excessive exaggeration gave the serious performance an unintentionally ridiculous quality.
Die kleinen Versprecher gaben dem ernsten Auftritt eine unerwartete Komik.
The small slips of the tongue gave the serious performance an unexpected comic quality.
