rigged system
Predetermined outcome arrangement
A rigged system is one designed or manipulated to produce predetermined outcomes, typically favoring those in power while appearing fair.
The phrase implies corruption or structural unfairness: The whole thing is a rigged system—ordinary people never had a chance.
Common in political rhetoric, where it suggests elections, economies, or institutions serve elites rather than the public.
- corruptDishonest, open to bribes
- crookedBent or dishonest
- fixedRestored or immovable
- unfairUnjust or partial
- stacked deckPre-arranged cards for cheating
manipulation · fraud · cheating · insider · elite · establishment · deep state · good old boys · inequality · conspiracy · puppet · strings · deck · stacked · tilted · biased · broken · moving goalposts
- propagandapropaganda, brainwashing, disinformation, misinformation, indoctrination
- injusticeinjustice, inequality, discrimination, bias, prejudice
- favoritismfavoritism, nepotism, cronyism, partiality, preferential treatment
rigged systemlevel playing field
Equal competitive conditions
clean game · square deal · fair shake · rule of law · due process
rigged systemmeritocracy
Advancement through demonstrated ability
merit-based system · merit system · free market · equal opportunity · open competition
rigged systemchecks and balances
Constitutional power-limiting framework
rigged, rigging, rigs, system, systems, systematic, systematically, systematize, systematized