rat (on)

Definition of rat (on)next
1
as in to split (on)
to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities how much—or how little—did the fuzz have to pay you to rat on us?

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to desert
to leave (a cause or party) often in order to take up another many party operatives ratted on the senator's candidacy once her poll numbers started to slip

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rat (on)
Verb
  • After all, sport has an almost unparalleled ability to talk to people, particularly some of those most at risk of taking their own lives.
    Matt Woosnam, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026
  • What led up to the lawsuit As the lawsuit explains, some former teammates talked among themselves in 2024 with memories of the hazing, and one of them started researching the history of the initiation practices.
    Paula Wethington, CBS News, 10 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Life and death are entangled, like a once-prosperous but now deserted community.
    Jonathan Flint, Harpers Magazine, 1 Sep. 2026
  • In August, Rome is deserted as locals ditch the sweltering city for the sea, but everyone returns in the fall, refreshed and energized for the season ahead.
    Laura Itzkowitz, Travel + Leisure, 21 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The pilots did not inform air traffic controllers of any problems with the plane prior to landing, air traffic control audio indicated.
    Maria Aguilar Prieto, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2026
  • Smart travelers stay informed by reading the fine print and understanding travel requirements for their destination.
    Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Metcalf credits his unusual durability with an unusual ability to reject himself.
    Jonathan Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • In 2024, the court rejected an emergency request from Nicaragua to order Germany to halt military and other aid to Israel in Gaza, but the 16-judge panel declined to throw out the case altogether.
    ABC News, ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • To reach the quarterfinals in New York, Zheng had to accept her newfound station in tennis — not to abandon her confidence for the sake of humility, but to combine her natural self-belief with acceptance of her reality and a new perspective.
    Ava Wallace, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Masson credited the town’s surveillance cameras with capturing the fleeing pair abandoning at least one of the paintings and the city’s police force with a quick response.
    News Desk, Artforum, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The Prepared Hero Fire Blanket is designed to help smother small fires by cutting off their oxygen supply and comes in a ready-to-hang pouch for easy access.
    ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Trump’s threat to cut off foreign trade could endanger growth, further hurting his ratings.
    Josh Boak, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Rat (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rat%20%28on%29. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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