Illustration of rattlesnake
rattlesnake
noun
rat·tle·snake
ˈra-tᵊl-ˌsnāk 
: any of several American pit vipers (genera Crotalus and Sistrurus) that have horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp rattling sound when shaken
Examples of rattlesnake in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
There are 12 snake species in Idaho, and none are perhaps as dangerous as the Western rattlesnake and prairie rattlesnake, Idaho’s two venomous snakes.
—
Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 19 Apr. 2024
While unnerving, the buzzing sound of a rattlesnake is designed to warn you.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2024
Nearly 30 years have passed since Skid Row unceremoniously gave Sebastian Bach the ol’ rattlesnake shake, replacing him with a revolving door of unremarkable frontmen.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2024
Recent studies have led Hayes and a team of mostly Loma Linda University researchers to the provocative conclusion that rattlesnakes are anything but just instinctive people killers.
—Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
If you get bitten by a rattlesnake, take immediate action.
—The Arizona Republic, 23 Mar. 2024
In rattlesnakes, puzzling them out would be a next logical step.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 Mar. 2024
The rattlesnake was then taken to a wilderness area and released.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2024
The rattlesnake button and other Easter eggs in the new Milwaukee Public Museum
First, and most importantly, there will be a snake button.
—Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2024
Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 19 Apr. 2024
While unnerving, the buzzing sound of a rattlesnake is designed to warn you.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 14 Apr. 2024
Nearly 30 years have passed since Skid Row unceremoniously gave Sebastian Bach the ol’ rattlesnake shake, replacing him with a revolving door of unremarkable frontmen.
—Kory Grow, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2024
Recent studies have led Hayes and a team of mostly Loma Linda University researchers to the provocative conclusion that rattlesnakes are anything but just instinctive people killers.
—Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
If you get bitten by a rattlesnake, take immediate action.
—The Arizona Republic, 23 Mar. 2024
In rattlesnakes, puzzling them out would be a next logical step.
—Quanta Magazine, 11 Mar. 2024
The rattlesnake was then taken to a wilderness area and released.
—Mark Price, Miami Herald, 21 Feb. 2024
The rattlesnake button and other Easter eggs in the new Milwaukee Public Museum
First, and most importantly, there will be a snake button.
—Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rattlesnake.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near rattlesnake
Cite this Entry
“Rattlesnake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rattlesnake. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rattlesnake
noun
rat·tle·snake
ˈrat-ᵊl-ˌsnāk
: any of various poisonous American snakes with a rattle at the end of the tail
Medical Definition
rattlesnake
noun
rat·tle·snake
ˈrat-ᵊl-ˌsnāk
: any of the American pit vipers that have a series of horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp rattling sound when vibrated and that comprise the genera Sistrurus and Crotalus see diamondback rattlesnake, tiger rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake
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