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riotous

adjective

ˈrī-ə-təs How to pronounce riotous (audio)
Definition of riotousnext
1
as in humorous
causing or intended to cause laughter his riotous mugging always has everyone in hysterics

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lavish
pouring forth in great amounts a painting by that artist is usually a riotous display of color

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 riotous The joyous if relatively restrained gathering was the culmination of the riotous nationwide celebrations that had broken out on the evening of April 12, when the results of the parliamentary elections came in. — Gordon F. Sander, The New York Review of Books, 4 July 2026 Guns is an actor and writer, known for her razor-sharp observations and riotous voice. — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2026 The Musical’ Baz Luhrmann’s 2011 movie musical is lush and riotous. — Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 22 June 2026 Part slasher parody, part meta commentary on the structure of horror movies, and fully riotous, Behind the Mask is a dreadfully under-appreciated contribution to the subgenre that would have made for a terrific franchise. — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 9 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for riotous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riotous
  1. humorous
  2. lavish
  3. comedic
  4. excessive
  5. funny
  6. copious
  7. amusing
  8. abundant
Adjective
  • Exclusives include Wouters & Hendrix, a 42-year-old brand based in Antwerp that specializes in organic, surreal and often humorous designs.
    — Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Why do some humorous attempts land perfectly while others fail?
    — Norbert Schwarz, Harvard Business Review, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of humorous
Adjective
  • Zendaya chose a glittering Prada gown bedecked in shimmering crystals with a plunging tulle neckline, along with Mikimoto jewelry, including lavish pearl-and-diamond earrings and two rings from the Petals collection.
    — Meg Walters, InStyle, 19 Sep. 2026
  • The short clip highlights a lavish chandelier and floral centerpieces, and even shows Melania carefully arranging elegant silverware and glassware on the dinner table.
    — StyleCaster Editors, StyleCaster, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of lavish
Adjective
  • But also tell me about infusing the character with some of your sense of humor and comedic timing.
    — Glenn Garner, Deadline, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Her family and church life remained opaque, but her bizarre comedic timing and magnetic onscreen presence turned her into everyone’s favorite reality-TV anti-hero.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of comedic
Adjective
  • There’s a marginal risk of excessive rainfall for each afternoon through Wednesday, according to the weather service.
    — Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Avoid excessive moisture and never pour water into the main unit.
    — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of excessive
Adjective
  • On paper, the script didn’t seem that funny, and the looseness of it all — the clowning, the lack of a traditional plot structure — seemed kind of slapdash.
    — Victor Garber, Vulture, 17 Sep. 2026
  • The play touches on issues of male bonding, family, reentering the dating pool, loss, grief and despair, while being very funny almost all the time.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of funny
Adjective
  • Between copious hits from a vape, relaxing in his home office in rural Pennsylvania, McNeil talks about the strange process of writing about his own punk rock life for a change.
    — Deputy Entertainment, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The market has already shown a voracious appetite for companies demonstrating copious free cash flows at a time when it's become scarce.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of copious
Adjective
  • They’ve been assembled for a brain-breaker of a misfired melodrama, at first darkly amusing, before plunging headlong into soap opera-style twists and a general sense of heavy depression that no one can shake.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 14 Sep. 2026
  • The obsessive neat freak beneath the easygoing surface of the virtue-signaling feminist ally might have made an amusing motif if it were ever referenced again.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of amusing
Adjective
  • Sodium is considerably more abundant and widely distributed than lithium, potentially giving sodium-ion batteries an advantage in resource availability.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026
  • When something becomes abundant, its individual value declines.
    — Nick Leighton, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of abundant

Browse Nearby Words

riot acts
riotous
riotously
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Riotous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riotous. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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