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
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
1
2
as in prolixity
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rambling
Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
Kiehne was frustrated with the Joneses because the county government wouldn’t grade the dirt road up to his ranch, a rambling territory along the New Mexico border.
—Mitch Moxley, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
Check out the fragrant Kelleher Rose Garden and the rambling Fenway Victory Gardens, originally planted by citizens in 1941 as a source of food during World War II.
—Kori Perten, AFAR Media, 24 Sep. 2025
Trump touched on those issues as well in a rambling UN address that more closely resembled his campaign speech, filled with attacks and lists of achievements.
—Daniel Bush, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
Boelter’s motivation remains unclear, but investigators found a one-and-a-half-page letter, described as rambling and difficult to read, that was ascribed to him.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2025
Cristin Milioti’s therapy notes, Seth Rogen’s rambling delight, Owen Cooper’s halting honesty, all examples of presence that will outlast the highlight reels of gowns and jokes.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Bargatze’s bit is predicated on the fact that most awards show speeches are self-indulgent, rambling tributes to other celebrities, which is fine.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
The final part is a rather rambling segment philosophizing on proof of the afterlife—in line with dozens of similar texts from this era of psychical research.
—Alice Vernon
september 8, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 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
Verb
In the past several years, Edge had filed a string of civil lawsuits with rambling, sometimes conspiratorial claims.
—Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025
Kiehne was frustrated with the Joneses because the county government wouldn’t grade the dirt road up to his ranch, a rambling territory along the New Mexico border.
—Mitch Moxley, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
Check out the fragrant Kelleher Rose Garden and the rambling Fenway Victory Gardens, originally planted by citizens in 1941 as a source of food during World War II.
—Kori Perten, AFAR Media, 24 Sep. 2025
Trump touched on those issues as well in a rambling UN address that more closely resembled his campaign speech, filled with attacks and lists of achievements.
—Daniel Bush, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
Boelter’s motivation remains unclear, but investigators found a one-and-a-half-page letter, described as rambling and difficult to read, that was ascribed to him.
—Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 16 Sep. 2025
Cristin Milioti’s therapy notes, Seth Rogen’s rambling delight, Owen Cooper’s halting honesty, all examples of presence that will outlast the highlight reels of gowns and jokes.
—Vibhas Ratanjee, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Bargatze’s bit is predicated on the fact that most awards show speeches are self-indulgent, rambling tributes to other celebrities, which is fine.
—Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
The final part is a rather rambling segment philosophizing on proof of the afterlife—in line with dozens of similar texts from this era of psychical research.
—Alice Vernon
september 8, Literary Hub, 8 Sep. 2025
Noun
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
-
Others described sightings of a woman dressed in black wandering hallways, gardens and along the seashore.—
Noreen Kompanik,
Boston Herald,
26 Oct. 2025
-
And there’s even an AI Kevin O’Leary wandering cyberspace.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
22 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Video posted on Facebook shows a tree service worker leaning an extremely tall ladder up to an enormous tree in order to rescue a very talkative — and thankful — black cat.—
TJ Macias,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Mbeumo, nicknamed Brice, was not shy at football but talkative and funny.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
There was even a final machination aimed at rattling the Venezuelan president about the pilot’s true loyalties.—
Joshua Goodman,
Fortune,
28 Oct. 2025
-
McClung has almost singlehandedly revived the Slam Dunk Contest with his imaginative arsenal of rim-rattling highlights, but has yet to consistently crack an NBA rotation.—
Alex Kirschenbaum,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But even though Toews and Kane are still roaming NHL rinks, that past is pretty far back now.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
31 Oct. 2025
-
If the press and talent guests are a select few, there’s more access to the folks roaming the halls.—
Anne Thompson,
IndieWire,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Whatever your candy preference, no one wants to spend the evening strolling barren streets hoping to find some goodies.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
27 Oct. 2025
-
After 10 minutes of strolling along paved pathways from the gate, the line of trees that marks the edge of the plateau comes into sight.—
Barry Neild,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Tucked between Sedona's iconic red sandstone cliffs and the babbling Oak Creek, L’Auberge de Sedona has long been considered one of Arizona's most inviting retreats.—
Susmita Baral,
Travel + Leisure,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Holding back tears, Christine Ulrich recalls how her daughter Veda once loved dancing, drawing and babbling.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Reports of Brigitte Bardot's death have been greatly exaggerated — and the French actress isn't happy about it.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Aknvas also chose a light and bright wash for mini dresses, with exaggerated ruffles and lacing details.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Outside, the aroma of turmeric, cardamom, and garam masala mingles with the sweet haze of incense drifting down the street and masking the underworld accused of hiding just around the corner.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
-
No leaves on the trees, few birds in the sky; the spacious vistas interdicted in all directions by armed men in black uniforms—police at the perimeter barricades, police on motorcycles, police drifting overhead in helicopters.—
Henry Freedland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rambling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rambling. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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