1
as in humorous
causing or intended to cause laughter
his riotous mugging always has everyone in hysterics
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in lavish
pouring forth in great amounts
a painting by that artist is usually a riotous display of color
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Recent Examples of riotous
The quest to fathom the riotous diversity of nature is absorbingly told in a virtual double biography of the great taxonomist Carl Linnaeus and his contemporary, the count of Buffon.
—
Ian Tattersall, The New York Review of Books, 5 Feb. 2026
This was a riotous, thrilling way to bring the curtain down on a five-and-a-half week spell which could come to define their entire season come May.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Guns is an actor and writer, known for her razor-sharp observations and riotous voice.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
In March, the city erupts for Las Fallas, Valencia’s biggest festival, a riotous display of bonfires, fireworks, and parades honoring Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters.
—Siobhan Reid, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riotous
Ian Tattersall, The New York Review of Books, 5 Feb. 2026
This was a riotous, thrilling way to bring the curtain down on a five-and-a-half week spell which could come to define their entire season come May.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2026
Guns is an actor and writer, known for her razor-sharp observations and riotous voice.
—Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Jan. 2026
In March, the city erupts for Las Fallas, Valencia’s biggest festival, a riotous display of bonfires, fireworks, and parades honoring Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters.
—Siobhan Reid, Travel + Leisure, 29 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for riotous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for riotous
Adjective
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Butler went for a mix of serious and humorous in his statement on the pickup.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
12 Mar. 2026
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The two American stars, the reason for Hulu to be giving this one a push, are both very good, using their respective comic personae to humorous effect but not schtick.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
10 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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He was voted back into his post in 2021 when the club was in a dire economic situation after the lavish spending on players by president Josep Bartomeu and the financial hit of the COVID-19 pandemic.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Mar. 2026
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The couple was married in Hawaii in 2022 in a lavish ceremony.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Incorporating magical realism into the comedic and, at times, poignant overtones can be a tricky feat, but Devantez and company do it with great craft and care.—
Courtney Howard,
Variety,
17 Mar. 2026
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Adapted from a Norwegian-language film from director Tommy Wirkola, this movie needs a director who can smoothly shift from silly to sadistic within a single scene, and Jaccone’s broad comedic sensibilities aren’t up to the task.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
16 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Auditors said other warning signs for potential fraud included multiple hospices in one building, geographic clustering, low patient counts, high rates of terminally ill patients later discharged alive, excessive billing and staff shared across multiple companies.—
Adam Yamaguchi,
CBS News,
19 Mar. 2026
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Three deaths by low blood sodium — two resulting from men with mental illness drinking excessive amounts of water in their cells, a rare and avoidable condition, while the third was likely the same cause.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Accidentally running face-first into your mom’s butt is funny, no matter your species.—
Popular Science Team,
Popular Science,
20 Mar. 2026
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At work, while reporting near a looming tornado, Clark meets Floyd (played with a touching, funny pathos by David Harbour), a sign-language interpreter.—
Vinson Cunningham,
New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Quench them with a copious deluge of water and stir to guarantee complete cooling.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
11 Mar. 2026
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The major risk here is a prolonged closure of the crucial Strait of Hormuz, which is virtually the only way to ship the Middle East’s copious oil and natural gas to the rest of the world.—
Hanna Ziady,
CNN Money,
5 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Featuring so many plugs for Chick-fil-A that one hopes the producers got a good product-placement fee or at least free catering for the film shoot, Plantman & Blondie might have been amusing enough as a brief sketch, although frankly even that’s doubtful.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
15 Mar. 2026
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There was an amusing sequence in this game that got a rise out of the crowd.—
Matthew Fairburn,
New York Times,
13 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Nearby, you can get lost in the extensive and abundant gardens of the iconic Villa Carlotta.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
21 Mar. 2026
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His hair was still the same—thick, mostly brown—and my sister and I thanked him for our own abundant heads.—
Amanda Peet,
New Yorker,
21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Riotous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riotous. Accessed 22 Mar. 2026.
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