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
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Recent Examples of rambling
David Fischer, Sun Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026
Also in the village, with lower prices, the June Lake Villager Motel is a rambling property beneath a vintage mid-century sign.
—Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Her editor figured that Bainbridge could get away with a rambling, nostalgic performance.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
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
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
Routh then read from a rambling, 20-page statement.
—David Fischer, Sun Sentinel, 4 Feb. 2026
Also in the village, with lower prices, the June Lake Villager Motel is a rambling property beneath a vintage mid-century sign.
—Los Angeles Times, 29 Jan. 2026
Her editor figured that Bainbridge could get away with a rambling, nostalgic performance.
—Christopher Tayler, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
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
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
-
Like a lot of messy divorces, this started with a wandering eye, a lover scorned and boils down to the money.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
21 Jan. 2026
-
After spending a few days, a wandering light leads them to the next world.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Dunleavy was more talkative about the Warriors’ flexibility in both the present and offseason, when Porzingis’ contract expires and the Warriors still possess all of their draft picks.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
8 Feb. 2026
-
Loud, funny and talkative, The Big Bopper merged radio and rock stardom and became a larger-than-life entity with a true theatrical presence.—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
3 Feb. 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
-
In the latest violence rattling the fragile ceasefire, medics said two men were killed by Israeli forces in eastern Khan Younis, in an area adjacent to where the army operates.—
Nidal al-Mughrabi,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Archival footage illustrates, in pulse-pounding and nerve-rattling fashion, just how widespread calls for Rushdie’s murder were.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Cathy might be as uninhibited as Heathcliff when roaming the outdoors, but a woman of her status can’t be allowed to marry a foundling, especially one who now works for her family as a servant.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Today, it’s believed that roughly 60 or more wolves are roaming the Golden State.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
He was also photographed strolling the Strip with that same group after being booted from the venue, according to the Daily Beast.—
Brian Niemietz,
Mercury News,
6 Feb. 2026
-
In addition to the Sonnenalp, all of the buildings in Vail Village were designed with European alpine architecture in mind, so walking around feels a bit like strolling through a wintry Bavarian fairytale.—
Sarah Kuta,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Spanx AirEssentials Half Zip Half zip and quarter zip sweaters are having a moment, and this Spanx sweater elevates the style even further with a statement-making exaggerated collar.—
Taylor Fox,
Travel + Leisure,
11 Feb. 2026
-
According to Nahmias, the low-top shoe’s design is meant to capture the mountainous ranges that meet the water throughout California and features an upper inspired by a popular skate shoe paired with an exaggerated sole made of lightweight materials.—
Stephen Garner,
Footwear News,
9 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
Now the babble about them is back.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
19 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rambling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rambling. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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