Quick answer
Gerrymander means to manipulate electoral district boundaries for political advantage. It is usually pronounced JER-ee-man-der, and today it is still readable to modern audiences, even if it sounds more deliberate than everyday speech.
Word page
Gerrymander
To gerrymander means to manipulate electoral district boundaries for political advantage. It belongs to ridiculous verbs and works best in comic action, lively dialogue, and verbs that do more than plain “move” or “say”. It still feels usable today, especially when you want a word with more character than the plainest alternative.
At a glance
verbcomical-actionexpressive
How to say it
Meaning in plain English
If you gerrymander, you to manipulate electoral district boundaries for political advantage. The verb usually suggests something more expressive, comic, or textured than a plain everyday substitute.
Why this word feels absurd
Gerrymander feels absurd because its repeated sounds give it a bounce or wobble that makes the word feel half descriptive and half sound effect.
Origin and history
Gerrymander is generally traced to origin uncertain. In modern use, the history matters less than the strong tone the word still carries.
Is this word still used today?
Gerrymander is still usable today, especially when you want language that feels more distinctive than the plainest modern alternative.
Example sentences
- The interns began to gerrymander at once when the projector failed again.
- He gerrymandered through the explanation so fast that nobody trusted the final answer.
- In the play, nervous witnesses gerrymander whenever the magistrate clears his throat.
- She refused to gerrymander about the crisis and gave the room a usable plan instead.
- The children gerrymandered excitedly after finding the attic full of costumes.
When should you use this word?
Use gerrymander when a plain action verb feels too flat and you want the sentence to carry more motion, tone, or comic texture. It works especially well in comic action, lively dialogue, and verbs that do more than plain “move” or “say”.
Similar words
bamboozle, beclown, bedaub, befuddle, besmirch
Opposite or contrasting words
stillness, restraint, straightforward action
Common questions
- What does gerrymander mean? to manipulate electoral district boundaries for political advantage.
- How do you pronounce gerrymander? It is commonly pronounced JER-ee-man-der.
- Is gerrymander still used today? Gerrymander is still usable today, especially when you want language that feels more distinctive than the plainest modern alternative.
- When should you use gerrymander? Use gerrymander when a plain action verb feels too flat and you want the sentence to carry more motion, tone, or comic texture. It works especially well in comic action, lively dialogue, and verbs that do more than plain “move” or “say”.
- What words are similar to gerrymander? Similar words include bamboozle, beclown, bedaub, and befuddle.
Editorial note
Edited by Absurd Words. Last updated: May 9, 2026. See the editorial policy for how definitions, examples, labels, and update checks are handled on the site.