variants
also rigamarole
as in gobbledegook
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
Love the idea of falling asleep under the stars with a fresh breeze, but not so keen on the whole rigmarole of setting up a tent, digging a hole when nature calls, and sacrificing creature comforts like a luxury mattress or a coffee machine?
—
Brittany Anas, House Beautiful, 2 Sep. 2023
Cons: The rigmarole of being asked to choose a text, make a rubbing from it and then name a preferred brand of freedom, all before being allowed to sound the big bell, is gilding the lily.
—Blake Gopnik, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2023
Recently, the mainline games have felt like hollow copies of the original generation’s charm and soul, introducing new concepts that are subsequently thrown away in sequels and putting players through the same, repetitive rigmarole on the way to becoming a champion.
—Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2021
Spare yourself the rigmarole, reap the benefits.
—Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 12 May 2022
See All Example Sentences for rigmarole
Brittany Anas, House Beautiful, 2 Sep. 2023
Cons: The rigmarole of being asked to choose a text, make a rubbing from it and then name a preferred brand of freedom, all before being allowed to sound the big bell, is gilding the lily.
—Blake Gopnik, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2023
Recently, the mainline games have felt like hollow copies of the original generation’s charm and soul, introducing new concepts that are subsequently thrown away in sequels and putting players through the same, repetitive rigmarole on the way to becoming a champion.
—Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2021
Spare yourself the rigmarole, reap the benefits.
—Charles C. W. Cooke, National Review, 12 May 2022
See All Example Sentences for rigmarole
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rigmarole
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
-
This marks the second week in a row that the governor invited a conservative guest onto his podcast who espoused transphobic rhetoric.—
Abby Monteil,
Them,
11 Mar. 2025
-
But new and legacy spending ambitions continue unabated, as Congress—despite the GOP’s small-government rhetoric—has long capitulated to progressive aims.—
Clyde Wayne Crews Jr.,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The child first dialed 911 and began saying gibberish to the dispatcher before hanging up and dialing again.—
Landon Mion,
Fox News,
1 Mar. 2025
-
Fried memes and hysterical gibberish suffocate the internet nowadays.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
New York Times,
11 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
So the hype around that show undoubtedly drove the bigger audience.—
Toni Fitzgerald,
Forbes,
11 Mar. 2025
-
The news of Khaled’s appointment comes just days after the league announced a partnership with Roc Nation International that will make Khaled the league’s chief hype officer for the U.S. events this upcoming season.—
Eric Jackson for Sportico,
Robb Report,
10 Mar. 2025
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
-
This is all a familiar song and dance: Ambitious ideas about reducing health care spending quickly run into political reality, which includes heavy backlash from the health care industry.—
Caitlin Owens,
Axios,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Check out Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, an annual festival of song and dance, which runs in a different city, town, or village around the country every August.—
Yvonne Gordon,
AFAR Media,
31 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rigmarole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rigmarole. Accessed 16 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share