Meaning & use
rigmarole
A lengthy, complicated, and often unnecessary process or set of procedures.
See it in a sentence
Renewing the visa involved a frustrating rigmarole of forms, stamps, and waiting rooms.
I don't want to go through the whole rigmarole of returning the package just for a small refund.
A note on using this word
Rigmarole is informal and usually expresses mild frustration or exasperation with bureaucracy or overly complex steps.
Words with a similar meaning
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “rigmarole”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.