Definition of double-talknext
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

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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

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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 double-talk 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
  • The announcement comes after months of escalating rhetoric from the president, who has repeatedly threatened to take over the territory citing national security purposes.
    Michelle Stoddart, ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026
  • One day, there was menacing rhetoric on Truth Social; the next, memes on X of penguins.
    Isaac Stanley-Becker, The Atlantic, 19 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • The other two, the no-nonsense Clara (Ayanna Nicole Thomas) and the all-nonsense Farley (Gabriel Marcus Omlor), have a subplot of their own.
    Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 18 Sep. 2026
  • Ziegler says his team may find that a model produces nonsense under an unusual formatting request or that an external safety checker needs to intervene more frequently.
    Barbara Booth, CNBC, 16 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • This dumbed-down Goebbels gobbledygook revived talking points that Habermas had tried to quash during the Historikerstreit.
    Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
  • But at least some of it was gobbledygook.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 June 2026
Noun
  • Companies modelled after Mary Kay that have reprised empowerment babble for their founders’ gain are mentioned but receive scarce judgment.
    Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 15 July 2026
  • The film almost completely drops any and all scientific babble from the book in favor of character development, action sequences, and emotional gut punches.
    Matthew Razak, Space.com, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Dozens of countries’ names were misspelled or written in pure gibberish.
    Jim Edwards, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Dozens of other countries' names were misspelled or written in pure gibberish.
    ABC News, ABC News, 21 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The Korean Football Association was furious, responding to this juvenile, but ultimately harmless, prattle by boycotting the Korean press.
    E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 24 June 2026
  • Some of the prattle can feel like treading water, a delaying tactic until the inevitable confrontation scene.
    Theater Critic, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • And the rigmarole of international travel is a very good reason.
    R. Eric Thomas, Chicago Tribune, 18 Apr. 2026
  • 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.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 4 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Industry chatter about the potential sale quieted after Vulcan’s recent booster woes.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
  • That sparked chatter about potential interest from another Dominican team (such as Licey, given a connection with his uncle, Erick Aybar) and/or from teams in Venezuela, with several reportedly inquiring.
    Marc Topkin, The Orlando Sentinel, 11 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Double-talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/double-talk. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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