double-talk

noun

dou·​ble-talk ˈdə-bəl-ˌtȯk How to pronounce double-talk (audio)
1
: language that appears to be earnest and meaningful but in fact is a mixture of sense and nonsense
2
: inflated, involved, and often deliberately ambiguous language
double-talk intransitive verb
double-talker noun

Examples of double-talk in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Pat Paulsen, a master of dry wit, delivered droll, double-talk editorials on social issues before mounting a presidential campaign in 1968 with the Straight Talkin’ American Government (STAG) Party. Fred A. Bernstein, Washington Post, 27 Dec. 2023 What new form of narrative, what gory amalgam of truth and spectacle, what double-talking rough beast approaches? James Parker, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2023 If his pre-prison projects were almost entirely freestyled, these songs are more tightly written, honoring the fallen, indicting the double-talk of the industry, powered by the energy of a bowstring being pulled back for a half-decade. Jeff Weiss, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'double-talk.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of double-talk was in 1936

Dictionary Entries Near double-talk

Cite this Entry

“Double-talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/double-talk. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

double-talk

noun
dou·​ble-talk
ˈdəb-əl-ˌtȯk
1
: language that seems to make sense but is actually a mixture of sense and nonsense : gibberish
2
: language that is purposely ambiguous

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