What a palaver!
Source: tatoeba (6326903)
Palaver
/pəˈlɑː.və(ɹ)/
Synonyms for "palaver" (306 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (62)
Noun(4 words)
Strong matches (91)
colloguecolloquiumcolloquycommentcompare notescomplimentconceitconcernconclaveconfabconfabulateconfabulationconferconfer withconferenceconfrontationcongressconsultconsult withconsultation
Show 59 more words
conventionconversationconversecouncilcouncil firecouncil of warcounseldeliberatedialoguedictionarydiscoursediscussdiscuss withdiscussionditherdouble talkdouble-talkdriveldroolduologueelocutionexchange observationsexchange of viewsexchange viewseyeball-to-eyeball encountereyewashfair wordsfalderalfawn uponfawningfiddle faddlefiddle-faddlefiddledeedeeflatterflatteryflummeryfolderolfudgefustiangabgabblegalimatiasgammongasget togetherget-togethergibbergibberishgibble-gabblego ongobbledygookgossipgreaseguffgushhave conversationshaverhigh-level talkhocus pocus
Noun(10 words)
Related words (153)
hocus-pocushold conferencehoneyed phraseshoneyed wordshot airhuddlehumbugidle talkincenseinterchange of viewsinterviewjabberjargonjawjawinglanguagelexiconlookoutmake fair weathermeet
Show 114 more words
meetingmere talkmumbo jumbonarrishkeitnatternegotiatenegotiationsnews conferenceniaiserienonsensenonsense talknuisanceoccasionsoiloil the tongueoral communicationpack of nonsensepalaveringparleyparolepatterperformancepour forthpourparlerpowwowpraisepratepratingprattleprattlingpress conferencepretty liesprittle prattleprittle-prattleprocedureput heads togetherquestion-and-answer sessionrambleramble onrantrap sessionrappingrattlerattle onreasonreason withred tapereel offreferrefer torigamarolerigmarolerodomontaderound tablerubbishrun onseanceseminarsessionshoot the breezesit down togethersit down withsittingskimble-skambleslaverslobber oversmall talksoapsoft soapsong and dancespeakingspeechspoutspout offstuff and nonsensestultiloquencesummitsummit conferencesummitrysweet nothingssweet talksweet wordssycophancytake counseltake up withtalktalk awaytalk nonsensetalk ontalk overtalkee talkeetalkee-talkeetalkfesttalkingterminologytittle tattletittle-tattleto-dotrashtrialoguetrumperytwaddletwattletwiddle-twaddlevaporingvocabularywafflewafflingwheedlewheedlingwordsyakyakkety-yakyakking
Noun(9 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: absurdity, accent, accents, adulate, adulation.
- Sentence evidence is available for palaver, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, wordnet, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "palaver".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "palaver"
Keep "palaver" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "palaver" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "palaver", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "palaver" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
22 entriesShowing 16 of 22 words.
More specific
9 entriesCollocations
10 entriesall night palaverbureaucratic palaverceremonial palaverdiplomatic palaverformal palaverlengthy palaverlong palaverpointless palaverprolonged palavertedious palaver
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriesTranslations
5 translations across 5 languages.
Danish
1 entries- palaver noun (meeting with much talk)
Finnish
1 entries- palaveri noun (meeting with much talk)
French
1 entries- palabre noun (meeting with much talk)
German
1 entries- Palaver noun (meeting with much talk)
Russian
1 entries- до́лгие перегово́ры noun (meeting with much talk)
Sample sentences
18 total sentences available.
We have no time to waste in idle palaver.
Source: tatoeba (10476860)
Off the top of my head, I can't think of another song whose lyrics include the word 'palaver', let alone one that rhymes it.
Source: tatoeba (11513854)
Here we remained four days, on account of a palaver which was held on the following occasion.
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 18 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "palaver"?
Closest matches include absurdity, accent, accents, adulate, adulation.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "palaver"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.