as in bureaucratese
Related Words
Relevance
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 legalese
Rather than forging ahead through complicated legalese, business owners are provided with step-by-step, readable guidelines.
—
Chris Gallagher, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2025
These methods can be tricky to digest, however—especially since some of their names come from Latin and legalese can be difficult to understand.
—Ashley Case, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Many of them do not have high levels of computer and internet literacy and need someone to help them through all the legalese of a nearly century-old social program with a wonky user interface.
—Eli Hager, ProPublica, 22 Feb. 2025
A little bit of drama, a little bit of comedy, the legalese of it all.
—H. Alan Scott, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legalese
Chris Gallagher, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2025
These methods can be tricky to digest, however—especially since some of their names come from Latin and legalese can be difficult to understand.
—Ashley Case, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025
Many of them do not have high levels of computer and internet literacy and need someone to help them through all the legalese of a nearly century-old social program with a wonky user interface.
—Eli Hager, ProPublica, 22 Feb. 2025
A little bit of drama, a little bit of comedy, the legalese of it all.
—H. Alan Scott, Newsweek, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for legalese
Recent Examples of Synonyms for legalese
Noun
-
Details of new initiatives were bogged down by mind-numbing bureaucratese.—
Sharon Grigsby,
Dallas News,
11 Apr. 2023
-
The most striking aspect of Putin’s failure to accept responsibility for the Kursk disaster was his retreat into bureaucratese.—
Masha Gessen,
The New Yorker,
18 Mar. 2020
Noun
-
The overly earnest character speaks in a hilariously cringey Gen Z self-help psychobabble that continuously grates on Enrique’s nerves.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2025
-
Sometimes, such content might be portrayed as being valid psychological science versus non-sensical psychobabble.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
11 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
The six-episode limited series feels like a long movie broken into arbitrary episodes, its ending is mired by digital gobbledygook, and Marvel still doesn’t know how magic makes sense in a universe ruled by advanced technology and literal gods.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
24 June 2025
-
As always, Yellowjackets is full of mind-bending detours, supernatural gobbledygook, and foliage-laden costumes.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Legalese.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/legalese. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share