rigged (adj.)

What thepumpkin-spice obsession was to consumables in 2016, the “rigged’’ label was to politics: a vague insinuation at first, appealing to some, dismissed by most. Then, almost overnight, it was everywhere, unstoppable, impervious to sense and good taste.

To hear the nation’s politicos tell it, America is more rigged than a fleet of Tall Ships.

“Wall Street and the billionaire class have rigged the rules,’’ inveighed Senator Bernie Sanders repeatedly. He deplored not just the “rigged economy,’’ but the Democratic Party’s bylaws, too. “When we talk about a rigged system,’’ Sanders fumed, “it’s also important to understand how the Democratic Convention works.’’ Hillary Clinton agreed with Sanders on the economy (“rigged in favor of those at the top’’) — but then, so did everyone else, from right-winger Charles Koch to left-winger Robert Reich.

The race for the White House was a frenzy of rig-talk. The Clinton campaign accused Sanders of “rigging the system.’’ Libertarian Gary Johnson said the presidential debates were “a rigged game, man.’’ Jill Stein claimed the whole election was “illegally rigged against the 99 percent.’’

But no one let fly the “rigged’’ charge more frequently and indiscriminately in 2016 than Donald Trump. The economy, the debates, the FBI, the Republican primaries — according to Trump, all of them were “rigged.’’ So was Election Day (“I’m telling you, November 8th, we’d better be careful because that election is going to be rigged’’). So was the day after Election Day: “He certainly would say the system is rigged,’’ campaign manager Kellyanne Conway was still insisting on Nov. 9.

Will it ever end? The pumpkin-spice derangement seems to have faded over the past couple weeks. If only we could say the same for “rigged.’’

— JEFF JACOBY

Jeff Jacoby can be reached at jacoby@globe.com.