RIOTS Synonyms: 20 Similar and Opposite Words

riots

noun

plural of riot

as in screams

someone or something that is very funny she's such a riot at parties

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of riots In the book, Mysaria also dies during the riots, killed by the City Watch after Rhaenyra flees. — James Grebey, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026 Fifty years ago, Massachusetts became a national test case for equity in schools, after riots erupted over policies meant to undo decades of harmful segregation. — Cameron Pugh, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Aug. 2026 In 1992, when a jury acquitted the officers of the most serious charges, Los Angeles erupted in four days of riots that left 50 dead and more than 2,300 injured. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026 Instead, the Citizens’ Council, a white supremacist organization, claimed Williams instigated the riots. — Aaron Coy Moulton, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026 There have also been the larger challenges the city has face, pointing to the fires, riots and the pandemic. — Esha Chhabra, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 Over the ensuing years, at least 45 people were killed in riots over the book, a Japanese translator was stabbed to death, an Italian translator was attacked and survived, and the book’s Norwegian publisher survived a shooting. — ABC News, 29 July 2026 In the ensuing years, at least 45 people have been killed in riots over the book, a Japanese translator was stabbed to death, an Italian translator was attacked and survived, and the book’s Norwegian publisher survived a shooting. — Jennifer Peltz, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026 Over the ensuing years, at least 45 people were killed in riots over the book, a Japanese translator was stabbed to death, an Italian translator was attacked and survived, and the book's Norwegian publisher survived a shooting. — CBS News, 29 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for riots

Noun

According to police records, a father dropping off two of his children for daycare heard screams coming from the basement.

— ABC News, ABC News, 13 Aug. 2026
At that point, say many Toluca Lake residents, the screams became untenable.

— Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of screams

Browse Nearby Words

riotously

riots

rip

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Riots.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/riots. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of riots

noun

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on riots

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

zeugma

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Words of the Week - Aug. 14

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes