riotous

adjective

ri·​ot·​ous ˈrī-ə-təs 

1

a

: of the nature of a riot : turbulent

b

: participating in riot

2

: abundant, exuberant

the garden was riotous with flowers

riotously adverb

riotousness noun

Synonyms of riotous

• humorous
• comedic
• funny
• amusing
• comic
• comical
• hysterical
• ridiculous
• entertaining

Examples of riotous in a Sentence

a riotous profusion of flowers

his riotous mugging always has everyone in hysterics

Recent Examples on the Web

Em Nearly every dish at this marvellous East Village restaurant is a kaleidoscope of flavors and textures, riotous with green herbs and vibrant pickles, but these sandwiches are unadorned, almost drab. —Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 14 Dec. 2025

There’s a riotous guitar freakout. —Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 12 Dec. 2025

Get ready for an interlude of riotous laughter as Richard Todd Adams and Max Roll take the audience on a musical comedic journey about their would-be careers as concert pianists. —Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 Dec. 2025

The riotous sequences ends on a close-up of Glinda. —Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 23 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for riotous

• quietus

Kids Definition

riotous

adjective

ri·​ot·​ous ˈrī-ət-əs 

1

a

: of the nature of a riot

b

: taking part in rioting

2

: abundant

a garden riotous with flowers

riotously adverb

Legal Definition

riotous

adjective

ri·​ot·​ous ˈrī-ə-təs 

1

: of the nature of a riot

riotous conduct

2

: participating in a riot

a riotous assemblage