1
as in rhetoric
language marked by abstractions, jargon, euphemisms, and circumlocutions
the reporter listened to the senator's double-talk for about 30 seconds, and then repeated the question
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in nonsense
unintelligible or meaningless talk
the man on the sidewalk rattled off some double-talk, shoved the petition in my face, and before I realized it, I had added my signature to the list
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of double-talk
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for double-talk
Noun
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Despite rhetoric, 'financial gravity' still drives most firms toward short-term gains, as the Business Roundtable's actions showed.
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This era of social media and national political rhetoric accentuate everyday differences.
Noun
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Not only is that nonsense, but Israel took this into account.
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Get outta here with that nonsense.
Noun
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This dumbed-down Goebbels gobbledygook revived talking points that Habermas had tried to quash during the Historikerstreit.
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But at least some of it was gobbledygook.
Noun
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The film almost completely drops any and all scientific babble from the book in favor of character development, action sequences, and emotional gut punches.
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Read a book and sip tea in front of the central fireplace, swim between the indoor and outdoor sections of the glimmering pool, and soak your aching quads in the hot tubs under the evergreens and aspens while listening to the peaceful babble of Gore Creek.
Noun
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With its collaborations now stretching to Japan, via Nintendo, a globalization defines Illumination — fitting given the international word salad gibberish of the Minions.
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On Saturday Night Live, host Will Ferrell and musical guest Paul McCartney played a couple of gibberish-speaking mechanics who end up taking some naive car owners for a ride.
Noun
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Some of the prattle can feel like treading water, a delaying tactic until the inevitable confrontation scene.
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The bizarre reality of daily life in a Southeast Asian scam compound—the tactics, the tone, the mix of cruelty and upbeat corporate prattle—is revealed at an unprecedented level of resolution in a leak of documents to WIRED from a whistleblower inside one such sprawling fraud operation.
Noun
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And the rigmarole of international travel is a very good reason.
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Alternatives were mooted, such as filming in England, but flying all the crew from Poland, and their associated visa requirements, would have added to the rigmarole.
Noun
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In the last year or two, there was chatter and debate whether Messi would actually be selected to join the national team again.
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If circumstances had gone Spain’s way with more clinical finishing or a Cape Verde defender making a mistake, then the result would have been different and a lot of the chatter currently happening (including here) would likely not be happening.
Cite this Entry
“Double-talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/double-talk. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.
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