riots

Definition of riotsnext
plural of riot
as in screams
someone or something that is very funny she's such a riot at parties

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example 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 riots Our nation had seen urban riots in 1965 and 1966. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026 This was only a portent of things to come — the protests were dwarfed by massive protests and riots against the regime in September 2022-2023, then the largest protests in December 2025 to January 2026. Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2026 In the summer of 2020, massive riots erupted over the murder of George Floyd, undergirded by a powerful social justice movement. Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 25 Mar. 2026 The riots are widely regarded as the spark that turned simmering tensions into a full-scale civil war. Eranda Jayawickreme, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026 Chavez was part of four Pulitzer Prize-winning teams for breaking news coverage, including the Los Angeles riots, the North Hollywood shooting, the Northridge earthquake, and the 2004 wildfires. Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026 O'Hara compared that chaos to the unrest after the 2020 killing of Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer, which led to major protests and riots. Jaclyn Diaz, NPR, 24 Mar. 2026 Moron was also the site of significant protests during anti-government riots on July 11, 2021, the largest since Fidel Castro's 1959 revolution. Dave Sherwood, USA Today, 14 Mar. 2026 In 1983, riots swept through the state prisons. James Verini, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riots
Noun
  • The junior left-hander, who is committed to TCU, celebrated just about every out with exuberance Tuesday, letting out loud screams and breaking out fist pumps after each strikeout.
    Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 1 Apr. 2026
  • Several husky owners echoed how quickly the screams can escalate.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Wiseman said to hoots from the crowd of media gathered at the site.
    Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2026
  • Owl hoots are most effective at striking up turkeys when owls are naturally active, which is around dawn and dusk.
    Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The guys hit a Foxwoods, get some laughs, and skip back home.
    Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 29 Mar. 2026
  • Styled like a hyper-sexualized Powerpuff Girl, Cherry is responsible for many of the film’s biggest laughs — and some of its strangest tonal misfires.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 25 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Riots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riots. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on riots

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster