riotous

adjective

ri·​ot·​ous ˈrī-ə-təs 

1

a

: of the nature of a riot : turbulent

b

: participating in riot

2

: abundant, exuberant

the garden was riotous with flowers

riotously adverb

riotousness noun

Synonyms

• antic
• chucklesome
• comedic
• comic
• comical
• droll
• farcical
• funny
• hilarious
• humoristic
• humorous
• hysterical
• hysteric
• killing
• laughable
• ludicrous
• ridiculous
• risible
• screaming
• sidesplitting
• uproarious

Examples of riotous in a Sentence

a riotous profusion of flowers

his riotous mugging always has everyone in hysterics

Recent Examples on the Web

This serenity is a long way from the 52-year-old’s musical beginnings with the riotous German hip-hop crew Fischmob in the ’90s. —Laura Snapes, Pitchfork, 8 Apr. 2025

But there is something about the pasta bag that particularly lends itself to a riotous night out. —Christian Allaire, Vogue, 1 Apr. 2025

The estimate of $3 million is also believed to be remarkably conservative for the actual damages incurred by the riotous attack. —Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 24 Mar. 2025

The riotous dancing is, for the attendees, those lucky few, a salve on life’s burn. —Dwight Garner, New York Times, 20 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for riotous

• quietus

Kids Definition

riotous

adjective

ri·​ot·​ous ˈrī-ət-əs 

1

a

: of the nature of a riot

b

: taking part in rioting

2

: abundant

a garden riotous with flowers

riotously adverb

Legal Definition

riotous

adjective

ri·​ot·​ous ˈrī-ə-təs 

1

: of the nature of a riot

riotous conduct

2

: participating in a riot

a riotous assemblage