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

• humorous
• comedic
• funny
• amusing
• comic
• comical
• hysteric
• 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

Having such long races necessitated a wider competitive field and that created an experience that’s even more riotous, where there’s an equivalent of a NASCAR-like crash at every corner. —Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 12 June 2025

With vibrant, squiggly animation that relies heavily on archival imagery and a riotous sense of rhythm, Odermatt delivers a short that is both a parody and a love letter to one of opera and pop culture’s greatest 20th century icons. —Jamie Lang, Variety, 7 June 2025

Devil May Cry Perhaps the show most tonally opposite to The Last of Us on this list, Netflix’s Devil May Cry is a riotous, colorful blast of punk energy. —Barry Levitt, Time, 26 May 2025

Who needs a pastiche of prints and riotous colors when these more harmonious shades play so well together? —Tom Stubbs, Robb Report, 23 Feb. 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