double-talk

noun

dou·​ble-talk ˈdə-bəl-ˌtȯk 

1

: language that appears to be earnest and meaningful but in fact is a mixture of sense and nonsense

2

: inflated, involved, and often deliberately ambiguous language

double-talk intransitive verb

double-talker noun

Synonyms

• bafflegab
• gibberish
• gobbledygook
• gobbledegook
• rigmarole
• rigamarole
• song and dance

Examples of double-talk in a Sentence

the reporter listened to the senator's double-talk for about 30 seconds, and then repeated the question

the man on the sidewalk rattled off some double-talk, shoved the petition in my face, and before I realized it, I had added my signature to the list

Recent Examples on the Web

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

Pat Paulsen, a master of dry wit, delivered droll, double-talk editorials on social issues before mounting a presidential campaign in 1968 with the Straight Talkin’ American Government (STAG) Party. —Fred A. Bernstein, Washington Post, 27 Dec. 2023

What new form of narrative, what gory amalgam of truth and spectacle, what double-talking rough beast approaches? —James Parker, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2023

If his pre-prison projects were almost entirely freestyled, these songs are more tightly written, honoring the fallen, indicting the double-talk of the industry, powered by the energy of a bowstring being pulled back for a half-decade. —Jeff Weiss, Los Angeles Times, 28 Mar. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1936, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

double-talk

noun

dou·​ble-talk

ˈdəb-əl-ˌtȯk

1

: language that seems to make sense but is actually a mixture of sense and nonsense : gibberish

2

: language that is purposely ambiguous