1
as in informants
a person who provides information about another's wrongdoing
the drug mule refused to turn rat without a guarantee of immunity
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in lovers
someone who regularly spends time in a particular place
on Friday night the mall rats were out in full force
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in dogs
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
no one can understand what she finds appealing in a rat like him
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rats
Sara Talpos — Undark, STAT, 1 June 2026
Maintaining cleanliness and installing physical barriers are effective long-term solutions to prevent rats from invading your garden.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 1 June 2026
Someone says the rats are actually cute — what’s your honest response?
—Zach Schiffman, Curbed, 29 May 2026
Infection occurs when people inhale particles from the urine, feces or saliva of infected mice and rats.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
In fact, our team of shoe experts and gym rats honed in on five budget gym sneakers that clock in at under $200 (sometimes even reaching $60 levels when on sale), without sacrificing an ounce of their technical prowess.
—Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 28 May 2026
While the station lacked the grandeur of its predecessors, the rats could sure scuttle in conveniently.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
People typically get hantavirus from contact with rodents like rats and mice—normally when exposed to their urine, droppings and saliva, or sometimes through a bite or scratch—but officials say no rodents have been found on the MV Hondius ship.
—Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Inspectors observed rats and roaches in Dallas food establishments during the latest round of city health inspections, according to the inspection report.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 May 2026
Noun
Sikiric remembers the juice sometimes harbored rats that had been caught and eaten by the pigs in their final hours.
—Sara Talpos — Undark, STAT, 1 June 2026
Maintaining cleanliness and installing physical barriers are effective long-term solutions to prevent rats from invading your garden.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 1 June 2026
Someone says the rats are actually cute — what’s your honest response?
—Zach Schiffman, Curbed, 29 May 2026
Infection occurs when people inhale particles from the urine, feces or saliva of infected mice and rats.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 29 May 2026
In fact, our team of shoe experts and gym rats honed in on five budget gym sneakers that clock in at under $200 (sometimes even reaching $60 levels when on sale), without sacrificing an ounce of their technical prowess.
—Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 28 May 2026
While the station lacked the grandeur of its predecessors, the rats could sure scuttle in conveniently.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
People typically get hantavirus from contact with rodents like rats and mice—normally when exposed to their urine, droppings and saliva, or sometimes through a bite or scratch—but officials say no rodents have been found on the MV Hondius ship.
—Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 26 May 2026
Inspectors observed rats and roaches in Dallas food establishments during the latest round of city health inspections, according to the inspection report.
—Lillie Davidson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rats
Noun
-
The indictment alleges that the group, which is best known for its work to oppose the Ku Klux Klan, lied to donors about paying confidential informants to infiltrate hate groups and deceived banks about the bank accounts used to make those payments.—
Sarah N. Lynch,
CBS News,
26 May 2026
-
Sandweg said one of the director's most underappreciated responsibilities is managing that internal fault line, ensuring that ERO's highly visible arrest operations do not undermine HSI's ability to cultivate the confidential informants and foreign partnerships on which its work depends.—
Philip Wang,
Time,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The mountain still erupts with theatrical force, and wines from the surrounding Etna DOC (a region often predicted to become Sicily’s second DOCG, the highest classification) attract wine lovers with their vibrant acidity and mineral edge.—
Layne Randolph,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
The restaurant doesn’t let meat lovers suffer, offering a 24-ounce Tomahawk and a flaming filet flaming courtesy of tequila.—
Connie Ogle
May 31,
Miami Herald,
31 May 2026
Noun
-
The Art of the Pet package really rolls out the red carpet for dogs at this dog-only property.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
-
Thousands of mail carriers across the United States were attacked by dogs in 2025, with Los Angeles topping the list for most attacks, according to a new report from the United States Postal Service.—
Saman Shafiq,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
One of State Security’s main goals, as well as a central source of its strength, is turning civilians into informers.—
Abraham Jiménez Enoa,
The Dial,
19 May 2026
-
And so every regime invests in having student informers.—
Anne Applebaum,
The Atlantic,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The score alone might make the fans happy.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
1 June 2026
-
Watermelon Pool was first published in Korea in 2015, and this new English translation brings its wonderfully surreal story and artwork to a new audience of imaginative young fans.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
1 June 2026
Noun
-
That principle is why coal miners once brought canaries underground, as one emergency medicine doctor explained in a recent court declaration.—
Lisa Song,
ProPublica,
7 May 2026
-
These living materials could also serve as canaries in the coal mine for water safety, glowing brighter or dimming in the presence of specific toxins.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
Adam’s been shuttled off to Earth along with the coveted Sword of Power in the aftermath of evil Skeletor (Jared Leto, having a great time in the part) and his horrid denizens taking over his home planet and imprisoning his parents.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
3 June 2026
-
Located on the street level of the Harbor Boulevard complex, the new shop gives dessert-loving denizens another place to pick up the quivering treat.—
Brock Keeling,
Oc Register,
26 May 2026
Noun
-
Grotesque sea hags, killer clowns, demonic self-help books and more plague the town and its mayor, Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys).—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2026
-
The four paintings are Joan Miró’s Composition (1953), Maurice Utrillo’s Maison de rendez-vous de chasse de Henri IV, rue Saint-Vincent, Montmartre (1934), Balthus’s Etude pour femme couchée (1948), and Pablo Picasso’s L’Ecuyere et les clowns (1961).—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rats. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
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