Ridiculous History — "The Ridiculous Origin of the Word 'Ridiculous'"

Released: September 16, 2025

Hosts: Ben Bowlin & Noel Brown

Podcast: Ridiculous History (iHeartPodcasts)

Overview

In this lively and etymologically nerdy episode, Ben and Noel take a meta-dive into the word that inspired their show: ridiculous. After years of discussing the strangest stories from history, they finally ask, “Where does the word ‘ridiculous’ come from?” Their investigation explores the origins and shifting meanings of “ridiculous,” its journey through Latin and English, its social impacts, and how it reflects the evolution of humor, insult, and cultural attitudes. The episode’s tone is witty and conversational, punctuated by sharp asides and playful banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Meta-Question: Why "Ridiculous"?

• The hosts reflect on having never asked about the origin of the very word central to their podcast, despite nearly 832 episodes.
  • “Despite almost eight years of creating new episodes twice a week…we have never asked about the word itself, which is itself ridiculous that we didn't ask.” — Ben [02:55]

2. What Does ‘Ridiculous’ Mean Today?

• Discussion of the modern definition:
  • “Extremely silly or potentially even unreasonable…deserving to be laughed at, worthy of ridicule.” — Noel [09:17]
• Reference to Cambridge Dictionary’s blunt definition, noting how the word still has bite.
• Exploration of synonyms: absurd, cockamamie, idiotic, etc., with special affection for “cockamamie.”
  • “Cockamamie is of course the favorite. And that's the one I put a link to as well, cause it's just such a weird word.” — Ben [09:55]

3. Origins: The Etymology of ‘Ridiculous’

• Latin "ridiculosus" (laughable, absurd) > "ridere" (to laugh).
• First documented English appearance: Thomas Elyot, 1533.
• Early use was much harsher—an insult, an attack on credibility.
  • “It used to be damn near fighting words. Way more mean than anyone would ever use it as today. Again, more attacking somebody's credibility.” — Noel [11:44]
• By the 1540s: Spelling and meaning start shifting but retain sting (“worthy of ridicule or contemptuous laughter”).
  • “Calling someone ridiculous means you are massively…for the birds…a grade dumb.” — Ben [14:59]

4. Evolution of the Word and Language

• Exploration of English spelling fluidity in the 1600s; codification often driven by influential figures or published works.
• Example of Thomas Elyot’s impact—advocating for literature in English instead of Latin.
• The shift during the 18th century toward a "friendlier" sense: “ridiculous” becomes less about mockery and more about humor or the absurd.
  • “Ridiculous…becomes a little bit less of a mocking fighting word. It's starting to evolve to mean something that is more funny or haha. Not necessarily in a mean way.” — Ben [21:39]

5. Slang, Social Class, and Bias

• Slang meanings evolved in different regions:
  • In 19th-century England, it could denote “indecent, improper, or disorderly,” sometimes bordering on formal judgment [24:43].
  • In the U.S. (20th century), used as a synonym for “outrageous” in specific communities, with prejudiced notes on its use among Gullah speakers or “poor whites in the Ozarks.”
  • “Any form of a word that describes something being stupid or ill conceived or outrageous…it has a basis in othering…a way of demonizing a perceived other.” — Noel [26:41]
• Reflection on how language can be weaponized as a tool for social division.

6. The Philosophy of the Ridiculous

• Discussion of Thomas Hobbes and his musings on ridicule, society, and human nature (from "Leviathan").
  • Hobbes linked the ridiculous to humor, laughter, and the social contract.
  • Notable quote:
    “Howsoever they may acknowledge many others to be more witty or more eloquent or more learned, yet they will hardly believe there be many so wise as themselves, for they see their own wit at hand and other men's at a distance.” — Hobbes (read by Ben) [31:36]

7. Ridiculousness as Social Commentary & Comedy Tool

• The “ridiculous” as a mechanism—jesters, roasts, and the tradition of using laughter to subvert authority.
  • “That's why a jester can talk trash so loudly at the king and say all these things an ordinary peasant would be tortured for muttering under their breath.” — Ben [38:13]
• Laughter as emotional bonding, social observation, and advertising gold.
  • “Once you get someone to chuckle with you, psychologically, you built this foundational bond, even if it's only for a limited amount of time.” — Ben [41:21]

8. Advertising & the Absurd

• The power of the “ridiculous” in advertising: jingles (“Meow Mix!”), catchphrases, and visual absurdity (“Eat Mor Chikin” cows).
• Discussion of PSAs—meant to be grave but often remembered for their unintentional absurdity (“This is your brain on drugs”).
  • “A lot of the audience only remembers them because we find them ironic and funny. We laugh when we recall them because we find them accidentally ridiculous.” — Ben [44:18]

9. Games with Words

• The hosts play a reference book word game using "Depraved and Insulting English" and “Dictionary of Archaic and Provincial Words”, landing on "cacocalia" (state of being ugly but sexy).
  • “Can I guess?...Is it cacao? ...the state of being ugly but sexy.” — Noel and Ben [47:38–48:18]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On the purpose of today's episode:
  “So what is this word? Where does the word come from? Today we're solving the mystery.” — Ben [02:55]

• On etymology and self-mockery:
  “It's a Pyrrhic victory to criticize someone for being wordy by using one of the nerdiest dang words in the English language.” — Ben [07:33]

• The absurdity in advertising:
  “You're paying more attention because you're replying cognitively to absurdity. The concept of ridiculous gets in our heads.” — Ben [45:45]

• Comedic reflection on word games:
  “Cacocalia … the state of being ugly but sexy…that's me. Hell yeah. Oh my God. I'm writing this down, dude.” — Noel [48:18]

• On being insulted today:
  “I think we'd all be more insulted if someone came to our homes and called them ill-conducted. I don't know why that would sting me more…” — Ben [25:53]

• On the evolution of language:
  “We're not even necessarily talking about the pure evolution of a word. It's just sort of like it picks up different umamis along the way.” — Noel [22:00]

• Wider social view on ridicule and others:
  “Any word can be weaponized, at least in English. For instance, think of innocuous words like ‘urban’ ...how evilly that was deployed.” — Ben [27:26]

Timestamps for Significant Segments

• Intro and why ask about 'ridiculous': [00:43–02:55]
• Defining 'ridiculous' and digging into synonyms: [06:28–11:44]
• Etymological deep-dive (Thomas Elyot, 1533): [12:10–15:08]
• Evolution of the word through the centuries: [14:34–22:30]
• Regional, social, and pejorative uses: [24:25–25:42]
• Language as a tool for othering: [26:41–28:16]
• Philosophy of the ridiculous (Hobbes): [29:10–32:38]
• Ridiculousness, laughter & social commentary: [37:17–40:20]
• Ridiculous in advertising and PSAs: [42:09–45:45]
• Word game: 'Cacocalia': [47:10–48:18]

Conclusion & Takeaways

• “Ridiculous” has journeyed from a sharp insult implying unworthiness to a term celebrating the silly, the absurd, and the subversive.
• The word’s shifts mirror broader cultural changes: the move from harsh public mockery to using absurdity as a tool for humor, bonding, advertising, and even subtle resistance.
• Language constantly evolves, reflecting the prejudices, philosophies, and comic sensibilities of its speakers.
• Ben and Noel’s romp through dictionaries and linguistic oddities highlights how words themselves can be “ridiculous”—in their origins, uses, and the way they shape our worldview.
• The humor, warmth, and nerdy joy in language are always worth celebrating, and sometimes, being a little “ugly but sexy” (cacocalia!) is the perfect way to end an episode.

For word nerds, comedy lovers, and anyone who’s ever wondered “Why do we call things ‘ridiculous’?”, this episode is a lateral, laugh-filled ride through centuries of mockery, meaning, and wit.