variants also rigamarole
as in gobbledegook
language marked by abstractions, jargon, euphemisms, and circumlocutions the security guard gave me some kind of rigmarole about passes and authorizations

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rigmarole Love the idea of falling asleep under the stars with a fresh breeze, but not so keen on the whole rigmarole of setting up a tent, digging a hole when nature calls, and sacrificing creature comforts like a luxury mattress or a coffee machine? Brittany Anas, House Beautiful, 2 Sep. 2023 Cons: The rigmarole of being asked to choose a text, make a rubbing from it and then name a preferred brand of freedom, all before being allowed to sound the big bell, is gilding the lily. Blake Gopnik, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2023 Recently, the mainline games have felt like hollow copies of the original generation’s charm and soul, introducing new concepts that are subsequently thrown away in sequels and putting players through the same, repetitive rigmarole on the way to becoming a champion. Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2021 Spare yourself the rigmarole, reap the benefits. Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 12 May 2022 See all Example Sentences for rigmarole 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rigmarole
Noun
  • Apologies to the Lois Lane stans out there, but Adams is mostly on hand in these movies to deliver stern gobbledygook (something about isotopes?) and stare at Henry Cavill’s cheekbones.
    Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
  • So, of course, their stony-eyed dedication to taking this inspirational gobbledygook seriously has gone viral.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 22 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The rhetoric on social media following that – that murder is extraordinarily alarming.
    CBS News, CBS News, 22 Dec. 2024
  • The steep slide that month came as Fed rhetoric was perceived as too hawkish for comfort, coinciding with concerns over tariff impacts.
    Michael Santoli, CNBC, 21 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Gelb reduces Ligeti, a canonical twentieth-century figure, to a marginal weirdo who wrote esoteric gibberish.
    Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Biden made the semi-finals this week with his gibberish at a White House health-care conference.
    Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2024
Noun
  • The hype around the new pygmy follows a summer full of love for Moo Deng, a pygmy hippo born at the Khao Kheow Open Zoo in Thailand in July.
    Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024
  • While the potential of AI in healthcare is undeniable, 2025 could be the year when the hype settles and applications that provide real-world, practical value will stand out.
    Amit Phull, Forbes, 26 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Driving the news: The statement was published only in English on the Facebook page of the Israeli Prime Minister's Office — potentially another case of double-talk by Netanyahu.
    Barak Ravid, Axios, 27 Sep. 2024
  • The GOP Senate candidate in Arizona, whose brand is a combative, never-back-down MAGA politics, has adopted a position on the issue that is nearly indistinguishable from that of double-talking Democrats.
    Rich Lowry, National Review, 14 Apr. 2024
Noun
  • Lee–one of the rare female religious heads at the time– and her followers worshipped through exuberant song and dance.
    Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 12 Dec. 2024
  • Lee’s followers deemed her the female Jesus Christ, and her worshippers prayed through song and dance, hence the fitting musical genre.
    Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 12 Dec. 2024

Podcast

Thesaurus Entries Near rigmarole

Cite this Entry

“Rigmarole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rigmarole. Accessed 5 Jan. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on rigmarole

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!