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
Relevance
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
-
For the San Diego County deserts west winds 20 to 30 mph with gusts 45 to 55 mph, locally up to 60 near the mountain foothills.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2026 -
Succulents are native to desert climates, which can be very hot during the day, and very cold at night.—
Peg Aloi,
The Spruce,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Wasserman was the evening’s major speaker and arrived at the event as reporters were talking to Cherfilus-McCormick.—
Anthony Man,
Sun Sentinel,
12 May 2026
-
Join, stay in, talk to the teacher next door.—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
But Breakfield rejected that argument during sentencing.—
Christina Coulter,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
-
Lower courts likely won't approve a measure that aims to circumvent a Supreme Court ruling and would probably reject any law that ties the provision of general government services to the behaviors of the recipients, Smith said.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
In December, the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, or DEEP, began holding meetings to inform the public of the possibility of building more nuclear reactors within the state, hoping to entice a town to host one.—
Krisztian Elcsics,
Hartford Courant,
12 May 2026
-
As Jones informed Moore of the selection, the 6-foot-3, 198-pound outside corner made a bold proclamation to his new boss.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
In at least one instance, the driver was able to fight off a gunman and force the would-be robbers to abandon their plan, prosecutors said.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
-
People facing the prospect of prolonged ICE detention are increasingly abandoning their claims for humanitarian protection and agreeing to depart voluntarily.—
Maria Sacchetti,
Washington Post,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
The fact that Iran could so easily cut off the world’s access to a fifth of global oil with some mines, makeshift drones and speed boats will require some serious reckoning – and permanent changes.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
12 May 2026
-
And nearly all of Iran’s population has been cut off from the internet since the war began.—
Jackie Northam,
NPR,
12 May 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.
Cite this Entry
“Rat (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rat%20%28on%29. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
