double-talk

noun

dou·​ble-talk ˈdə-bəl-ˌtȯk How to pronounce double-talk (audio)
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

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
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.
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

Time Traveler
The first known use of double-talk was in 1936

Dictionary Entries Near double-talk

Cite this Entry

“Double-talk.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/double-talk. Accessed 15 Dec. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on double-talk

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!