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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rigmarole
The comments follow a year in which the initial fanfare surrounding the IRA has been tempered by the administrative rigmarole of trying to channel billions into the real economy.
—
Natasha White, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2024
Such a rigmarole — there’s the extra time needed, not to mention the dishes — seems unthinkable for the busiest/laziest of us.
—Emily Heil, Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2023
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
See All Example Sentences for rigmarole
Natasha White, Fortune, 14 Jan. 2024
Such a rigmarole — there’s the extra time needed, not to mention the dishes — seems unthinkable for the busiest/laziest of us.
—Emily Heil, Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2023
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
See All Example Sentences for rigmarole
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rigmarole
Noun
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As always, Yellowjackets is full of mind-bending detours, supernatural gobbledygook, and foliage-laden costumes.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2025
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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
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His rhetoric is dramatically changing the U.S. relationship with the world.—
Ivan Pereira,
ABC News,
3 Apr. 2025
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Musk has faced criticism for his aggressive rhetoric toward international actors and interference with politics both home and abroad, culminating in his failure to secure a Republican victory at the Wisconsin Supreme Court election on April 1.—
MSNBC Newsweek,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
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But at the heart of it is an army of armchair scientists tapping into the unknown, shattering relaxation boundaries and spewing gibberish all in the hopes that someone out there will tingle.—
Kieran Press-Reynolds,
Pitchfork,
12 Mar. 2025
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While his wife, Mark’s sister Devon, seems to regard her husband’s new-age gibberish with indifference or annoyance, there are people in Ricken’s orbit who can match his freak.—
Samantha Allen,
Them,
25 Feb. 2025
Noun
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This seems to have surprised many who assessed his rhetoric as just more hype likely to fall prey to the same institutional constraints and poor execution that hampered Trump in his first term.—
Susan B. Glasser,
New Yorker,
3 Apr. 2025
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Zhao points out that the hype around generative AI often overshadows its limitations.—
Hessie Jones,
Forbes.com,
3 Apr. 2025
Noun
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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
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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
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Once the Israelites were safe, Miriam, Moses' sister, led a group of women in gleeful song and dance.—
Holly Rizzuto Palker,
Parents,
27 Mar. 2025
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The warmth between the three leads is believable and although the tendency to have Lane, Bomer and Graham break into choreographed song and dance routines for episodic climaxes quickly feels lazy, a cold open homage to Chicago produced my biggest laugh of the 10-episode season.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rigmarole.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rigmarole. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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