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

Such a laudatory view was lacking from the former commander-in-chief regarding the police who were overrun and injured by his followers in their riotous assault on the U.S. Capitol on Jan, 6, 2021. —Michael Smolens, San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 May 2024

The focus of this new book comes from two or so years of traveling around the world photographing subjects in their homes, but with a very riotous addition to the frame: children. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

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

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