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
Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 1 Apr. 2026
Trump’s speech was at times entertaining, rambling, repetitive, and combative.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026
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
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
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
Adjective
The North Carolina folk-rock band’s quiet and rambling third album exists in a cloud of dreamy contemplation.
—Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 1 Apr. 2026
Trump’s speech was at times entertaining, rambling, repetitive, and combative.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026
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
Verb
Throughout the latter two videos, Ivey spoke to the camera while driving his car and rambling through various evangelical talking points.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
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
-
Like Fox Lake mom Priscilla Marshall, 34, whose 11-year-old son was found wandering village streets last month, bloody and beaten, authorities said.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
The fourth graders were talkative, but focused.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Your 4th House of Foundations gets talkative as intellectual Mercury enters, making chats about your space easier to plan and finish.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
14 Apr. 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
-
Fermin, who has taken mask-rattling shots fairly frequently this season, was joking and talking with teammates after the game.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Saber rattling between the US and Cuba has reached a fever pitch following a US military operation in Caracas in January that captured Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, a staunch ally of the Cuban government.—
Patrick Oppmann,
CNN Money,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The African Sky Safari gondola gives you a bird’s-eye view of giraffes, zebras and other animals roaming below, while also giving your feet a break.—
Taylor Haught,
Kansas City Star,
21 Apr. 2026
-
That means the destination offers elements to help visitors be in tune with nature, including a fire pit, pond and farm animals roaming nearby.—
Simone Jasper
Updated April 21,
Charlotte Observer,
21 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Not to be outdone, the Tuscany Active Culinary Walking & Hiking Tour in Italy features wine sipping, a cooking class led by an engaging Italian chef, and plenty of strolling through the countryside.—
Beth Luberecki,
USA Today,
11 Apr. 2026
-
These days, Bailey is one of the celebrities people would be thrilled to see strolling down Hollywood Boulevard.—
Kailyn Brown,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
After a backlash, Kennedy has also pivoted to spending more time talking about less controversial topics like healthy eating — albeit with his own spin, including sharing exaggerated claims that various ailments can be cured by diet alone.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
The photo carousel went on to feature Hathaway’s final look, an off-the-shoulder neutral top with exaggerated sleeves, paired with black leather pants by Vaquera, per Vogue.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 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 24 Apr. 2026.
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