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
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Recent Examples of rambling
Grainne McBride, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Trump said in a rambling address.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 20 Jan. 2026
Asian Journey finds a fine balance between juicy yet good-natured conflict between participants and an amiable rambling quality that gives the travelog structure a bit of unpredictability.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Jan. 2026
Instead, DeSantis unleashed a rambling recap of the past seven years, with plenty of unsourced statistics, claims of victory that aren’t supported by reality, and wording often designed to obfuscate the most controversial parts of his tenure.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
The throwdown came after Trump mocked Newsom in a rambling speech at the Kennedy Center by the incumbant to Republican lawmakers.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
In his rambling, hour-long online announcement, Oltmann railed against mail-in ballots, taxes, tolls, gun laws, and medical companies concealing a cure for cancer.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 31 Dec. 2025
On a recent afternoon at the facility, a training exercise was taking place inside a small room filled with the noise of tools and rambling motors.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025
In an impassioned, sometimes rambling speech, Simmons stressed the importance of passing this bill by noting that some of the biggest artists of all time — who often sang other peoples’ work — never got paid for the copious radio airplay of their music.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 2025
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
There's a ski lift a few minutes' walk from the hotel and a raft of rambling trails.
—Grainne McBride, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Jan. 2026
Trump said in a rambling address.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 20 Jan. 2026
Asian Journey finds a fine balance between juicy yet good-natured conflict between participants and an amiable rambling quality that gives the travelog structure a bit of unpredictability.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Jan. 2026
Instead, DeSantis unleashed a rambling recap of the past seven years, with plenty of unsourced statistics, claims of victory that aren’t supported by reality, and wording often designed to obfuscate the most controversial parts of his tenure.
—Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 14 Jan. 2026
The throwdown came after Trump mocked Newsom in a rambling speech at the Kennedy Center by the incumbant to Republican lawmakers.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
In his rambling, hour-long online announcement, Oltmann railed against mail-in ballots, taxes, tolls, gun laws, and medical companies concealing a cure for cancer.
—Krista Kafer, Denver Post, 31 Dec. 2025
On a recent afternoon at the facility, a training exercise was taking place inside a small room filled with the noise of tools and rambling motors.
—Ivana Kottasová, CNN Money, 21 Dec. 2025
In an impassioned, sometimes rambling speech, Simmons stressed the importance of passing this bill by noting that some of the biggest artists of all time — who often sang other peoples’ work — never got paid for the copious radio airplay of their music.
—Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 9 Dec. 2025
Verb
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
-
Online research clarifies that the partner is still her husband, Eric, whose wandering eye started it all.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Capturing the story of a wandering hedge knight in Dunk, or a warrior without land or wealth, and his squire, a young boy, will steer Game of Thrones fans away from the medieval world of chivalrous knights protecting the weak and the innocent to a more realistic portrayal of knighthood.—
Etan Vlessing,
HollywoodReporter,
12 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Lopez describes her daughter as an energetic, talkative child who speaks both English and Spanish.—
Leondra Head,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Then, like now, people were very talkative.—
Gisela Salim-Peyer,
The Atlantic,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Many letters slam our new Muslim mayor and now a sprinkle of right-wing, pseudo-Christian babbling?—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Holmes’ feed is a babbling stream of self-help epigrams, ankle-deep reflections and many, many photos of herself.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
10 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Look past the saber rattling and campaign rhetoric.—
Brian Jones,
Oc Register,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Roughly one week later, Johnson reportedly heard the metal cage rattling from inside his home but later realized that the wrong bear had been captured.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
31 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Occasionally there would be a rumor of a bear roaming around on the mountain.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Jan. 2026
-
According to The Animal Foundation, a food delivery driver found Sadie roaming alone near a Family Dollar store in early January and contacted the city's Animal Protection Services, which transferred the dog into their care.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
18 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
While strolling in New York City, Katie Holmes went for a casual vibe in baggy black jeans with a light jacket and a crossbody bag, while Jennifer Garner's pair had a touch of subtle elegance with gold-tone hardware.—
Nicol Natale,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Shuter also reported that, in Aspen, the couple were seen shopping together and holding hands while strolling around the ski town.—
Lizzie Lanuza,
StyleCaster,
6 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Distilling the truth from the limited number of documents created by Friend and the often exaggerated or distorted tales recorded by others can be challenging.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Cue the ’80s, a decade defined by exaggerated silhouettes, statement washes, and hybrid designs.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Now the babble about them is back.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Mesopotamian corpses, stirred by the babble of trade, wander the halls wrapped in shrouds of extravagant malice.—
David Velasco,
Harpers Magazine,
18 Dec. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Rambling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rambling. Accessed 24 Jan. 2026.
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