palaver

/pəˈlɑvər/

Other forms: palavering; palavers; palavered

Palaver is a type of empty nonsense or useless talk. During an election year, you might tire of hearing the palaver of politicians.

Whether you call it malarkey, hokum, mumbo-jumbo, or truthiness, there are a lot of words for talk that cannot be trusted or believed. Palaver is part of this club. Specifically, palaver tends to be hot air — empty words from a blowhard. Palaver can also be sweet talk — a type of flattery. You can use this word as a verb too: by palavering, you might try to impress someone or get someone to do you a favor.

Definitions of palaver

1. noun

   loud and confused and empty talk
   synonyms: empty talk, empty words, hot air, rhetoric

   type of:

   bunk, hokum, meaninglessness, nonsense, nonsensicality

   a message that seems to convey no meaning
2. verb

   speak (about unimportant matters) rapidly and incessantly
   synonyms: blab, blabber, chatter, clack, gabble, gibber, maunder, piffle, prate, prattle, tattle, tittle-tattle, twaddle, yammer

   types:

   babble, blather, blether, blither, smatter

   talk foolishly

   type of:

   mouth, speak, talk, utter, verbalise, verbalize

   express in speech
3. verb

   have a lengthy discussion, usually between people of different backgrounds
   type of:

   parley

   discuss, as between enemies
4. noun

   flattery intended to persuade
   synonyms: blandishment, cajolery

   type of:

   flattery

   excessive or insincere praise
5. verb

   influence or urge by gentle urging, caressing, or flattering
   “He palavered her into going along”

   synonyms: blarney, cajole, coax, inveigle, sweet-talk, wheedle

   types:

   soft-soap

   persuade someone through flattery

   browbeat, bully, swagger

   discourage or frighten with threats or a domineering manner; intimidate

   type of:

   persuade

   cause somebody to adopt a certain position, belief, or course of action; twist somebody's arm