这两个形容词均含有“荒谬的”之意。其中，absurd 普通用词，强调指违背常理的荒谬；ridiculous强调荒谬到令人发笑的地步。如下面例子的比较：

No doubt it is very absurd.

It’s absurd to be afraid of them.

It’s absurd to make any such claim.

To maintain that we can survive a nuclear war is absurd.

This is perfectly ridiculous.

Whoever told you such a ridiculous story?

It is ridiculous that we should be (= that we are) short of water in a country where it is always raining.

So ridiculous did she look that everybody burst out laughing.

It’s ridiculous to sing songs that you don’t know what they mean.