1
as in gobbledegook
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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for double-talk
Noun
  • Faced with a phrase that has no inherent meaning, the AI Overview still makes a good-faith effort to answer the user's request and draw some plausible explanation out of troll-worthy nonsense.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 29 Apr. 2025
  • None of this ‘support the teams from your country in Europe’ nonsense.
    Andy Mitten, New York Times, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The Conclave actor joined the cast as Albus Dumbledore despite anti-trans rhetoric from author J.K. Rowling, who is an executive producer on the show.
    Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 2025
  • However, some of Poilievre's rhetoric has been viewed by Canadians as Trump-esque, such as his embrace of populist sentiments and calling opponents by nicknames, experts have said.
    Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • As always, Yellowjackets is full of mind-bending detours, supernatural gobbledygook, and foliage-laden costumes.
    Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2025
  • Apologies to the Lois Lane stans out there, but Adams is mostly on hand in these movies to deliver stern gobbledygook (something about isotopes?) and stare at Henry Cavill’s cheekbones.
    Matthew Jacobs, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • Trump prattles on about the economy while the actors freeze behind him in their ancient Galilee garb.
    Rosa Escandon, Forbes.com, 13 Apr. 2025
  • She was getting winded on our walk, and her prattle was broken up by heavy breaths.
    Joshua Cohen, The New Yorker, 13 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Furtado, with a similar penchant for stretching out vowels and embracing gibberish, does the same with Elliott here, at times shrill but still compelling. 73.
    Steven J. Horowitz, Vulture, 11 Apr. 2025
  • But at the heart of it is an army of armchair scientists tapping into the unknown, shattering relaxation boundaries and spewing gibberish all in the hopes that someone out there will tingle.
    Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 12 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • It's aimed towards trucks and sport utilities, whose designs usually include all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, and whose chassis are more vulnerable to wheel chatter and heavier loads.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Apr. 2025
  • Panthers: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia AS: There’s been a lot of chatter about where Walker should play at the NFL level.
    Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 19 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • The bust was followed by months of prolonged legal rigmarole.
    John Semley, Rolling Stone, 19 Apr. 2025
  • Even with all of the fees and rigmarole that entails.
    Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Worse, such jabber crowds out essential coverage of genuine threats to democracy and the visions of the two parties.
    Jennifer Rubin, Washington Post, 16 July 2024
  • Jacobs-Jenkins renders him as a wry, friendly figure who occasionally takes over the bodies of the other characters to explain what is happening beneath their jabber.
    Jesse Green, New York Times, 5 June 2023

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Cite this Entry

“Double-talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/double-talk. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

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