1
as in wandering
passing from one topic to another
I listened patiently to Mrs. Parsifal's rambling reminiscences, though I had no idea who "Dorothy" and "the stepson" were
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in talkative
using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea
the new minister gives rambling sermons that, if they have a point, are lost on the congregation, which invariably falls asleep
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in prolixity
Related Words
1
as in rattling
to talk at length without sticking to a topic or getting to a point
the teenagers sat around the pizza parlor, rambling on about dating, homework, movies, and the local football team
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in roaming
to move about from place to place aimlessly
by tirelessly rambling around San Francisco for a week we probably saw more of it than many residents ever have
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in strolling
to travel by foot for exercise or pleasure
we're planning to ramble all over the highland moors when we're in Dartmoor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rambling
Stephen Kelly, TheWeek, 26 Mar. 2026
The four leads are overconfident and loutish, spending their time drinking, rambling, and clumsily working through their worries about the future.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
The narrative features, however, such as 2010’s My Joy or 2017’s A Gentle Creature, were rich, rambling, surreal, maximalist, following characters on absurd quests through cross sections of bureaucracy and society.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
And, on her rambling way out of the building, a glimpse of a room with a second exit, though that door was barricaded by a large cabinet.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Turan lives in a co-op called Base Camp, a rambling four-story Victorian that houses 14 other tech workers who spend their days at OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google’s DeepMind.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
This film, so seemingly unassertive, apparently rambling and plotless, has a devastating impact and aftershock.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
The thinktank session was held at the rambling 40-acre Mettawa estate of another presidential also-ran, Adlai Stevenson II.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The writing can be rambling, unedited, and niche, or sharp, pristine, and relatable.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2026
Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 10 Mar. 2026
In addition to the lake, there are 26 miles of trails for rambling at Hot Springs National Park as well as a number of hiking paths leading into and out of downtown.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026
That’s when Amendola’s face, combined with some unhinged rambling, got the message across that something big just happened.
—Jeff Howe, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
What on Earth was Gabriel rambling on about before, anyway?
—Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
Roger Naylor shares 10 favorite Arizona destinations from his 50 years of rambling here.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2025
As Minneapolis reels from the shooting, officials are combing through Westman’s rambling writings – which the shooter shared in YouTube videos timed to go online around the same time as the attack – to search for a motive.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Trump has long bragged about his cognitive ability, repeatedly offering to take a cognitive exam alongside Biden during the 2024 campaign, and has claimed his rambling is a purposeful speaking style.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Shinjuku Gyoen is a rambling blend of European and Japanese formal gardens that becomes a focal point of the cherry blossom season in late March.
—Stephen Kelly, TheWeek, 26 Mar. 2026
The four leads are overconfident and loutish, spending their time drinking, rambling, and clumsily working through their worries about the future.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
The narrative features, however, such as 2010’s My Joy or 2017’s A Gentle Creature, were rich, rambling, surreal, maximalist, following characters on absurd quests through cross sections of bureaucracy and society.
—Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 24 Mar. 2026
And, on her rambling way out of the building, a glimpse of a room with a second exit, though that door was barricaded by a large cabinet.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 20 Mar. 2026
Turan lives in a co-op called Base Camp, a rambling four-story Victorian that houses 14 other tech workers who spend their days at OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google’s DeepMind.
—Joe Hagan, Vanity Fair, 18 Mar. 2026
This film, so seemingly unassertive, apparently rambling and plotless, has a devastating impact and aftershock.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026
The thinktank session was held at the rambling 40-acre Mettawa estate of another presidential also-ran, Adlai Stevenson II.
—Charles Selle, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2026
The writing can be rambling, unedited, and niche, or sharp, pristine, and relatable.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 15 Feb. 2026
Verb
This rambling 1,200-acre Southern California ranch has both and much more, plus a supremely private and scenic locale on the outskirts of the historic community of San Juan Capistrano.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 10 Mar. 2026
In addition to the lake, there are 26 miles of trails for rambling at Hot Springs National Park as well as a number of hiking paths leading into and out of downtown.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026
That’s when Amendola’s face, combined with some unhinged rambling, got the message across that something big just happened.
—Jeff Howe, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
What on Earth was Gabriel rambling on about before, anyway?
—Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
Roger Naylor shares 10 favorite Arizona destinations from his 50 years of rambling here.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2025
As Minneapolis reels from the shooting, officials are combing through Westman’s rambling writings – which the shooter shared in YouTube videos timed to go online around the same time as the attack – to search for a motive.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Trump has long bragged about his cognitive ability, repeatedly offering to take a cognitive exam alongside Biden during the 2024 campaign, and has claimed his rambling is a purposeful speaking style.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rambling
Adjective
-
The adventurous rapper and producer take a more refined approach on a collaborative album full of wandering thoughts and odd, understated beats.—
Stephen Kearse,
Pitchfork,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Another bill would require the Maryland Department of Health to create a webpage of resources for caregivers of individuals — due to age, disability, chronic illness or other functional limitations — including guidance on safety planning for wandering and elopement.—
Danielle J. Brown,
Baltimore Sun,
22 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Although Robbins could be talkative and engaging particularly when discussing his hometown Houston sports teams, there were also periods of sullen silence and self-medication.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Your 11th House of Hopefulness lights up as enterprising Mars harmonizes with jovial Jupiter in your talkative 3rd house.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Eichenberger recently converted one of the ponds into a small babbling brook to maintain a steady flow of water.—
Lennie Omalza,
Louisville Courier Journal,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The internet has spoken—the babbling of Minions will be heard at the 2026 Winter Olympics.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Deteriorating asset quality, collateral markdowns and a growing rush for the exits are rattling private credit markets and prompting comparisons to the Global Financial Crisis.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Your next visit to California’s poppy fields may come with a rattling surprise.—
Jasmine Mendez
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Chicago is a beautiful city and shouldn’t have to deal with kids roaming around with nothing to do.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Sac State is the host school at Golden 1 Center for this event, which means more familiar faces roaming the arena, including Orr, Bill Macriss, Jason Spencer, Brian Berger, Ryan Bjork and others.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In the summer, strolling and biking along the four reservoirs completely reset my nervous system; in the winter, the water becomes a frozen playground where people of all ages build snowmen and figure skate to their heart’s content.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
25 Mar. 2026
-
In videos from the summit, the robot can be seen mechanically strolling next to the first lady, even welcoming all in the room in several different languages and waving its hand.—
Bruna Horvath,
NBC news,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Prosecutors warned that the statute encouraged exaggerated or bad-faith claims that would be difficult to disprove years after the fact.—
Pamela Colloff,
ProPublica,
24 Mar. 2026
-
This means giving up the exalted and exaggerated idea of the West that boosts a masculinist self-image but severely constricts thought and feeling.—
Christine Smallwood,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The film almost completely drops any and all scientific babble from the book in favor of character development, action sequences, and emotional gut punches.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Read a book and sip tea in front of the central fireplace, swim between the indoor and outdoor sections of the glimmering pool, and soak your aching quads in the hot tubs under the evergreens and aspens while listening to the peaceful babble of Gore Creek.—
Sarah Kuta,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rambling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rambling. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
