If you say that someone has a riotous lifestyle, you mean that they frequently behave in a excessive and uncontrolled way, for example by eating or drinking too much.
[formal]
...aristocrats who wasted their inheritances in riotous living.
Synonyms: reckless, wild, outrageous, lavish More Synonyms of riotous
2. adjective [usually ADJECTIVE noun]
You can describe someone's behaviour or an event as riotous when it is noisy and lively in a rather wild way.
The dinner was often a riotous affair enlivened by superbly witty speeches.
...a riotous exhibition of boogie-woogie piano playing.
Synonyms: unrestrained, wild, loud, noisy More Synonyms of riotous
riotouslyadverb [ADVERB adjective/-ed]
...a slapstick affair which I found riotously amusing.
3. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
You can describe things as riotous when they are very colourful or decorative rather than plain or simple.
...a riotous collection of gaudy and glamorous dresses.
More Synonyms of riotous
riotous in British English
(ˈraɪətəs)
adjective
1.
proceeding from or of the nature of riots or rioting
2.
inciting to riot
3.
characterized by wanton or lascivious revelry
riotous living
4.
characterized by boisterous or unrestrained merriment
riotous laughter
Derived forms
riotously (ˈriotously)
adverb
riotousness (ˈriotousness)
noun
riotous in American English
(ˈraɪətəs)
adjective
1.
a.
having the nature of a riot
b.
engaging in rioting or inciting to riot
2.
without restraint; disorderly; boisterous
3.
dissolute; profligate
riotous living
4.
luxuriant or profuse
Derived forms
riotously (ˈriotously)
adverb
riotousness (ˈriotousness)
noun
Word origin
ME < OFr rioteus
Examples of 'riotous' in a sentence
riotous
The show is a predictably riotous affair and celebrations continue long into the night.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Only the celebrations will be riotous.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Their players' riotous celebrations as they left the field showed how much the win meant.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Isn't it a bit cramped for the stereotypical riotous student party?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
She's more likely to cause riotous behaviour.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The set is sleek, providing quietly suggestive backdrops to set off the riotous colours of some of the costumes.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
1 (adjective)
Definition
unrestrained and excessive
They wasted their lives in riotous living.
Synonyms
reckless
He is charged with causing death by reckless driving.
wild
I was just a kid and full of wild ideas.
outrageous
The prices these places charge are absolutely outrageous.
lavish
Critics attack his lavish spending and flamboyant style.
rash
Don't do anything rash until the feelings subside.
luxurious
extravagant
I was extravagant in my admiration of them.
wanton
unrestrained
intemperate
the unwisely intemperate language of the party leader
heedless
She scattered the letters about in her heedless haste.
immoderate
He launched an immoderate tirade on his son.
2 (adjective)
Definition
characterized by unrestrained merriment
Dinner was often a riotous affair.
Synonyms
unrestrained
wild
The angry crowd became quite wild and agitated.
loud
Suddenly there was a loud bang.
noisy
a noisy group of revellers
boisterous
a boisterous but good-natured crowd
rollicking
uproarious
He had spent several uproarious evenings at the Embassy Club.
orgiastic
an orgiastic party
side-splitting
a side-splitting joke
rambunctious (informal)
saturnalian
roisterous
3 (adjective)
Definition
unruly or rebellious
a riotous mob of hooligans
Synonyms
unruly
It's not good enough just to blame the unruly children.
violent
He could be violent from time to time.
disorderly
disorderly conduct
rebellious
a rebellious and dissident territory
rowdy
He has complained about rowdy neighbours.
anarchic
anarchic attitudes and disrespect for authority
tumultuous
Delegates greeted the news with tumultuous applause.
lawless
They said there could never be an excuse for lawless behaviour.
mutinous
His own army, stung by defeat, is mutinous.
ungovernable
The country has become ungovernable.
uproarious
refractory
insubordinate
Workers who are grossly insubordinate are threatened with discharge.
rampageous
Opposites
quiet
,
calm
,
disciplined
,
gentle
,
peaceful
,
mild
,
restrained
,
orderly
,
civilized
,
lawful
,
obedient
,
well-behaved
Additional synonyms
in the sense of anarchic
anarchic attitudes and disrespect for authority
Synonyms
lawless,
rioting,
confused,
disordered,
revolutionary,
chaotic,
rebellious,
riotous,
disorganized,
misruled,
ungoverned,
misgoverned
in the sense of boisterous
Definition
noisy and lively
a boisterous but good-natured crowd
Synonyms
unruly,
wild,
disorderly,
loud,
noisy,
wayward,
rowdy,
wilful,
riotous,
unrestrained,
rollicking,
impetuous,
rumbustious,
uproarious,
obstreperous,
clamorous
in the sense of disorderly
Definition
uncontrolled
disorderly conduct
Synonyms
unruly,
disruptive,
rowdy,
turbulent,
unlawful,
stormy,
rebellious,
boisterous,
tumultuous,
lawless,
riotous,
unmanageable,
ungovernable,
refractory,
obstreperous,
indisciplined
Nearby words of
riotous
ring something in
rinse
riot
riotous
rip
rip someone off
rip something off
Synonyms of 'riotous'
riotous
Explore 'riotous' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of extravagant
Definition
(of behaviour or gestures) extreme, esp. in order to make a particular impression
I was extravagant in my admiration of them.
Synonyms
excessive,
exaggerated,
outrageous,
wild,
fantastic,
absurd,
foolish,
over the top (slang),
unreasonable,
preposterous,
fanciful,
unrestrained,
inordinate,
outré,
immoderate,
O.T.T. (slang)
in the sense of heedless
Definition
taking no notice
She scattered the letters about in her heedless haste.
Synonyms
careless,
reckless,
negligent,
rash,
precipitate,
oblivious,
foolhardy,
thoughtless,
unthinking,
imprudent,
neglectful,
inattentive,
incautious,
unmindful,
unobservant
in the sense of immoderate
Definition
excessive or unreasonable
He launched an immoderate tirade on his son.
Synonyms
excessive,
extreme,
over the top (slang),
enormous,
steep (informal),
exaggerated,
extravagant,
unreasonable,
undue,
uncontrolled,
unjustified,
unwarranted,
exorbitant,
unrestrained,
profligate,
inordinate,
over the odds (informal),
egregious,
intemperate,
unconscionable,
uncalled-for,
O.T.T. (slang)
in the sense of insubordinate
Definition
not submissive to authority
Workers who are grossly insubordinate are threatened with discharge.
Synonyms
disobedient,
defiant,
rebellious,
disorderly,
turbulent,
unruly,
insurgent,
recalcitrant,
fractious,
riotous,
undisciplined,
seditious,
mutinous,
ungovernable,
refractory,
contumacious (literary)
in the sense of intemperate
Definition
extreme or severe
the unwisely intemperate language of the party leader
Synonyms
excessive,
extreme,
over the top (slang),
wild,
violent,
severe,
passionate,
extravagant,
uncontrollable,
self-indulgent,
unbridled,
prodigal,
unrestrained,
tempestuous,
profligate,
inordinate,
incontinent,
ungovernable,
immoderate,
O.T.T. (slang)
in the sense of lavish
Definition
extravagant
Critics attack his lavish spending and flamboyant style.
Synonyms
extravagant,
wild,
excessive,
exaggerated,
unreasonable,
wasteful,
prodigal,
unrestrained,
intemperate,
immoderate,
improvident,
thriftless
in the sense of lawless
Definition
not having laws
They said there could never be an excuse for lawless behaviour.
Synonyms
disorderly,
wild,
unruly,
rebellious,
chaotic,
reckless,
insurgent,
anarchic,
riotous,
unrestrained,
seditious,
mutinous,
insubordinate,
ungoverned
in the sense of loud
Definition
insistent and emphatic
Suddenly there was a loud bang.
Synonyms
noisy,
strong,
booming,
roaring,
piercing,
thundering,
forte,
turbulent,
resounding,
deafening,
thunderous,
rowdy,
blaring,
strident,
boisterous,
tumultuous,
vociferous,
vehement,
sonorous,
ear-splitting,
obstreperous,
stentorian,
clamorous,
ear-piercing,
high-sounding
in the sense of mutinous
Definition
openly rebellious
His own army, stung by defeat, is mutinous.
Synonyms
rebellious,
revolutionary,
turbulent,
subversive,
unruly,
insurgent,
riotous,
unmanageable,
seditious,
disobedient,
ungovernable,
refractory,
bolshie (British, informal),
insubordinate,
contumacious (literary)
in the sense of noisy
Definition
making a lot of noise
a noisy group of revellers
Synonyms
rowdy,
chattering,
strident,
boisterous,
vociferous,
riotous,
uproarious,
obstreperous,
clamorous
Additional synonyms
in the sense of orgiastic
an orgiastic party
Synonyms
wild,
abandoned,
riotous,
unruly,
frenetic,
uncontrolled,
unbridled,
depraved,
wanton,
unrestrained,
debauched,
dissolute,
Dionysian,
uproarious,
bacchanalian,
bacchic,
Saturnalian
in the sense of outrageous
Definition
shocking and socially or morally unacceptable
The prices these places charge are absolutely outrageous.
Synonyms
unreasonable,
unfair,
excessive,
steep (informal),
shocking,
over the top (slang),
extravagant,
too great,
scandalous,
preposterous,
unwarranted,
exorbitant,
extortionate,
immoderate,
O.T.T. (slang)
in the sense of rash
Definition
acting or done without proper thought or consideration
Don't do anything rash until the feelings subside.
Synonyms
reckless,
hasty,
impulsive,
imprudent,
premature,
adventurous,
careless,
precipitate,
brash,
audacious,
headlong,
madcap,
ill-advised,
foolhardy,
unwary,
thoughtless,
unguarded,
headstrong,
impetuous,
indiscreet,
unthinking,
helter-skelter,
ill-considered,
hot-headed,
heedless,
injudicious,
incautious,
venturesome,
harebrained,
harum-scarum
in the sense of rebellious
Definition
rebelling or showing a tendency towards rebellion
a rebellious and dissident territory
Synonyms
revolutionary,
rebel,
disorderly,
unruly,
turbulent,
disaffected,
insurgent,
recalcitrant,
disloyal,
seditious,
mutinous,
disobedient,
ungovernable,
insubordinate,
insurrectionary
in the sense of rowdy
Definition
rough, noisy, or disorderly
He has complained about rowdy neighbours.
Synonyms
disorderly,
rough,
loud,
noisy,
unruly,
boisterous,
loutish,
wild,
uproarious,
obstreperous
in the sense of side-splitting
Definition
causing a great deal of laughter
a side-splitting joke
Synonyms
hilarious,
hysterical (informal),
uproarious,
farcical,
rollicking
in the sense of tumultuous
Definition
unruly, noisy, or excited
Delegates greeted the news with tumultuous applause.
Synonyms
wild,
excited,
riotous,
unrestrained,
violent,
raging,
disorderly,
fierce,
passionate,
noisy,
restless,
unruly,
rowdy,
boisterous,
full-on (informal),
lawless,
vociferous,
rumbustious,
uproarious,
obstreperous,
clamorous
in the sense of ungovernable
Definition
(of a country or area) not able to be effectively governed, esp. because of unrest or violence
The country has become ungovernable.
Synonyms
unruly,
rebellious,
unmanageable,
refractory
in the sense of uproarious
Definition
(of laughter) loud and boisterous
He had spent several uproarious evenings at the Embassy Club.
Synonyms
riotous,
wild,
rowdy,
disorderly,
loud,
noisy,
turbulent,
boisterous,
tumultuous,
unrestrained,
tempestuous,
rollicking,
gleeful,
clamorous
in the sense of violent
Definition
using or involving physical force with the intention of causing injury or destruction