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.
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Recent Examples of rambling
Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 15 June 2026
Lady Banks’ rose (Rosa banksiae) is a large, rambling rose that can quickly grow up to 20 feet long.
—Daniel Scott, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 June 2026
Spinella shucks off sentimentality, always showing us Con’s offhand humor and sometimes nervous, defensive rambling.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 3 June 2026
Carnivores shouldn’t miss out on Peter upstairs—a rambling dining venue perched on the 24th floor, high above the rooms, that looks like a glitzy Vegas club complete with purple accents and ethereal, Avatar-esque light sculptures.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Advertisement In a lengthy and rambling video posted on social media, C+C Music Factory frontman Freedom Williams said he had initially been inclined to back out of the booking amid the backlash but is considering performing anyway out of spite toward those who criticized him for participating.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 29 May 2026
Pochettino, in a rambling answer about his central midfield options, seemed to suggest that Reyna could play in a deeper, more defensive position.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 27 May 2026
The California Military Academy spent a spectacular few of its early years, circa 1906, on the water at Santa Monica, leasing out the rambling Victorian pile that had once been the Arcadia Hotel.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
Years ago, he was sent a rambling Thomas Pynchon novel.
—Literary Hub, 19 May 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
Blackened with volcanic rock and encircled by towering waves, the tumultuous scenery makes a vivid psychic landscape for So Help Me God, a rambling spell of ’70s-era soul and exuberant orchestral folk-pop that sweeps through the fog of heartbreak and the clarity of self-discovery.
—Kiana Mickles, Pitchfork, 15 June 2026
Lady Banks’ rose (Rosa banksiae) is a large, rambling rose that can quickly grow up to 20 feet long.
—Daniel Scott, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 June 2026
Spinella shucks off sentimentality, always showing us Con’s offhand humor and sometimes nervous, defensive rambling.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 3 June 2026
Carnivores shouldn’t miss out on Peter upstairs—a rambling dining venue perched on the 24th floor, high above the rooms, that looks like a glitzy Vegas club complete with purple accents and ethereal, Avatar-esque light sculptures.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Advertisement In a lengthy and rambling video posted on social media, C+C Music Factory frontman Freedom Williams said he had initially been inclined to back out of the booking amid the backlash but is considering performing anyway out of spite toward those who criticized him for participating.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 29 May 2026
Pochettino, in a rambling answer about his central midfield options, seemed to suggest that Reyna could play in a deeper, more defensive position.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 27 May 2026
The California Military Academy spent a spectacular few of its early years, circa 1906, on the water at Santa Monica, leasing out the rambling Victorian pile that had once been the Arcadia Hotel.
—Patt Morrison, Los Angeles Times, 22 May 2026
Years ago, he was sent a rambling Thomas Pynchon novel.
—Literary Hub, 19 May 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
-
Controlled mind-wandering – Mind-wandering is a spontaneous zoning out of your immediate surroundings.—
Eric Zillmer,
The Conversation,
18 June 2026
-
Their newest roams freer musically, with an unburdened wandering feel.—
Jon Dolan,
Rolling Stone,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
Llorca recalls the technician being talkative and upbeat throughout most of the exam.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
5 June 2026
-
Some cat breeds are particularly chatty, and their talkative nature is perfectly normal.—
Madeline Gunderson,
USA Today,
4 June 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
Noun
-
Director Scott Ellis understands all this, and thus the admirably specific physical business and slurred verbosity in his gently outré revival really makes for quite the amusing diversion.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
-
Director Scott Ellis understands all this and thus the admirably specific physical business and slurred verbosity in his gently outré revival really makes for quite the amusing diversion.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Loosed of the wartime imperative to manufacture anti-aircraft guns and submarine torpedoes, factories were free to make bone-rattling dishwashers and mint-colored refrigerators.—
Caity Weaver,
The Atlantic,
12 June 2026
-
With line trucks rattling behind him, Lamont accused Eversource of having grown too comfortable with its ability to raise revenue from its customers in Connecticut, adding that state regulators need new tools to hold all utility companies accountable during requests for rate increases.—
John Moritz,
Hartford Courant,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
Accessible only by passenger ferry or private boat, Georgia's largest and southernmost barrier island feels worlds away from the mainland, thanks to its maritime forests, expansive salt marshes, shimmering coastal waters, and wild horses roaming the dunes.—
Lauren Dana Ellman,
Travel + Leisure,
14 June 2026
-
Let Florida panthers resume roaming by night in one of the last swaths of wilderness left to them.—
Eve Samples,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
The riverside area below the museum is well-trafficked by strolling and jogging Bilbainos who may pop in to enjoy the rooftop views and surrounding shops and galleries.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
-
That includes a bird-calling scene that sees the duo strolling through the forest and offering up their own spin on the calls of thrushes and larks.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
10 June 2026
Adjective
-
This includes about 29,000 direct construction jobs, more than 80,000 indirect and induced construction jobs and nearly 10,000 jobs related to wind farm operations.—
Jennifer McDermott,
Fortune,
15 June 2026
-
High humidity, medium indirect light, and warm temperatures are best for your prayer plant.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
14 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rambling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rambling. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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