variants also rigamarole
Definition of rigmarolenext
as in gobbledygook
language marked by abstractions, jargon, euphemisms, and circumlocutions the security guard gave me some kind of rigmarole about passes and authorizations

Synonyms & Similar 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 rigmarole A little rigmarole for much rejuvenescence. Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 20 Mar. 2026 This leads to a chaotic rigmarole in which, bit by bit, the Hungarian mobsters stream downstairs to either take advantage of the girls or do away with them, forcing them to rely on their discipline and athletic training to mount a response. Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 Mar. 2026 Now, there’s a bit of rigmarole in getting that price, which includes (according to Google Translate) nabbing a time-specific coupon worth $286 and trading in your old phone. Janhoi McGregor, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026 The victors of Iraqi elections often enter a familiar rigmarole of bargaining and deal-making to form the largest parliamentary alliance and put a government in place. Nabil Salih, Time, 4 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rigmarole
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rigmarole
Noun
  • This time, however, Spielberg seems to be not so much leading as following the decades of lore and mythology — and gobbledygook — that his movie of 49 years ago helped inspire.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 9 June 2026
  • The prompts must make sense and cannot just be gobbledygook.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • Healey, a former two-term attorney general, is completely disregarding public safety by her reckless rhetoric and actions – all to win another election.
    Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 4 June 2026
  • The escalating rhetoric comes at a critical moment for the two countries, which next month will embark on a review of their free trade agreement with Canada.
    Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
Noun
  • 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.
    William Vaillancourt, Rolling Stone, 17 May 2026
  • And these worlds aren’t even real, just ones and zeros merged to form a network of communication that sometimes feels like incoherent gibberish.
    Brandon Kaipo Moningka, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • After years of planning, anticipation, hype and a growing concern over high ticket prices and immigration restrictions, the largest World Cup in history kicks off on Thursday in Mexico City and will run through July 19 across 16 cities in Mexico, the United States and Canada.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
  • Prometheus offers an answer — a hazy one, given the few specifics on offer — of something that’s been hard to see two years into this hype cycle.
    Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 11 June 2026
Noun
  • 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
Noun
  • Also on stage was Danielle Brooks, who MCed the evening and performed a knockout song and dance number.
    Eve Batey, Vanity Fair, 3 May 2026
  • Yet, this lovable kids' series continues to teach positive messages through song and dance to this day.
    Lynnette Nicholas, Parents, 6 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

“Rigmarole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rigmarole. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on rigmarole

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