rabble

rab·ble | \ ˈra-bəl

How to pronounce rabble (audio)

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Definition of rabble

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a disorganized or confused collection of things

2a : a disorganized or disorderly crowd of people : mob

b : the lowest class of people

rabble

rabbled; rabbling\ ˈra-b(ə-)liŋ

How to pronounce rabbling (audio)

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Definition of rabble (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to insult or assault by or as a mob

Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about rabble

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Did You Know?

Noun

Rabble has been with the English language since its appearance in Middle English (as "rabel") in the late 1300s. It may have come from the Middle English verb "rabel" which meant "to babble." (Despite the similarity in sound and meaning, however, "babble" and "rabble" are unrelated.) The verb "rabel" is related to Middle Dutch "rabbelen" and Low German rabbeln, meaning "to chatter." So how do we get from babbling to crowds of people? The connection may be the idea of confusion. "Rabble," in its earliest uses could not only indicate a pack of animals, swarm of insects, or a confused collection of things, but could also indicate a confused or meaningless string of words.

Examples of rabble in a Sentence

Noun the crown prince was reminded that even the rabble of the realm deserved his attention and compassion

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun The Labour party was, at that point, a disorganized rabble. — Madeleine Kearns, National Review, "Boris Johnson’s Extraordinary Manifesto," 26 Nov. 2019 Áñez and the opposition counter that Morales’ ouster was the proper outcome for an election stolen by a corrupt and power-hungry rabble-rouser. — Rachelle Krygier, Washington Post, "In Bolivia, an interim leader is leaving her conservative mark," 18 Nov. 2019 On occasion, priests have led the crowds, giving them the appearance more of a giant church choir than an angry rabble. — S.r. | Shanghai, The Economist, "Do you hear the people sing? Not in China," 14 June 2019 The rabble on the wrong side of the law was now the law. — Lorraine Ali, latimes.com, "'The Mod Squad,' 'Adam-12' and how TV brought the counterculture into 1968's cop shows," 20 Apr. 2018 Since then, Lai's role as one of Hong Kong's most prominent rabble-rousers has threatened his fortune, subjected him to death threats and made him a symbol of the city's tensions with mainland China. — Jenni Marsh, CNN, "Why pro-democracy troublemaker Jimmy Lai is the only Hong Kong multi-millionaire standing up to China," 27 Aug. 2019 With The Conservative Sensibility, George Will takes a stand amid the rabble. — Matthew Continetti, National Review, "The Conservative Sensibility Is George Will’s Definitive Declaration," 20 June 2019 In these cases, the threat of mob violence, or the simple fact of a mob demand, is sufficient to get those with power to act as the mob wishes, to do the mob’s dirty work for it and thereby relieve the rabble of the exertion of a riot. — Kevin D. Williamson, National Review, "Crowder Isn’t a Threat to Public Safety," 6 June 2019 William Ackman, once an omnipresent rabble-rouser, is barely visible these days. — Cara Lombardo, WSJ, "After Suffering Bruising Losses, Ackman Pursues Quiet Recovery," 21 Mar. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rabble.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

5 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Rabble.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rabble. Accessed 28 January 2020.

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More Definitions for rabble

rabble

noun

English Language Learners Definition of rabble

disapproving

: a large group of loud people who could become violent

: ordinary or common people who do not have a lot of money, power, or social status

See the full definition for rabble in the English Language Learners Dictionary

rabble

rab·ble | \ ˈra-bəl

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Kids Definition of rabble

1 : a crowd that is noisy and hard to control : mob

2 : a group of people looked down upon as ignorant and hard to handle

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diligent

showing steady, earnest care and effort

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