comical

comic, comical

These two words overlap in meaning, but comic is the more common of the two and is the only one with the purely descriptive meaning ‘relating to or in the nature of comedy’, as in comic actor and comic opera. Comical is a more evaluative word, meaning ‘funny, causing laughter’, as in comical appearance and a comical situation; comic can also have this meaning but is often taken to imply intention rather than effect. The following examples demonstrate the different perspectives of these words in this meaning:

• Both brothers laughed out loud at the deliberately comic delivery of his English phrases as they shook hands —A. Grey, 1983

• In reality, the relationship was a strained and sometimes comical mismatch, a 50-year-long saga of crossed purposes —Daily Telegraph, 1992

• He wiped his head, looking almost comical in his shorts and sandals —N. Barber, 1992

• Simply said, this anthology is too long. None of it lacks literary charm, that is certain; but much of it lacks any actual comic element —First Things Magazine, 2005.