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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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of rats
Sudiksha Kochi, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025
An alligator's diet can include chicken liver, rats and animal parts, including bones and cartilage.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 2 Oct. 2025
There was also evidence that rats had been in the trunk — not just droppings, but chunks of paper had bite marks on the corners, and chew-sized pieces of other pages were missing.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2025
Surprisingly eloquent, Hawk compared finalists Richard Hatch and Kelly Wiglesworth to snakes and rats, respectively.
—Steve Helling, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
The Broncos’ first three drives Sunday went for three straight three-and-outs, a haunted house of penalties, ineffective run-blocking and personnel scattering on and off the field like lab rats.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
Garlic and Onion Unlike most humans, rats detest the smell of onions and garlic.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2025
Many different types of rodents may be digging up your yard, including squirrels, chipmunks, and even rats.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025
An early sign of what was to come arrived with Mao’s official adoption of Lysenko’s ideas and the launching of the Four Pests Campaign in 1958, aimed at eliminating rats, flies, mosquitoes, and sparrows.
—Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
Other live cameras monitoring elephants, lions and naked mole-rats also remain active during the shutdown.
—Sudiksha Kochi, USA Today, 2 Oct. 2025
An alligator's diet can include chicken liver, rats and animal parts, including bones and cartilage.
—Natalie Davies, Freep.com, 2 Oct. 2025
There was also evidence that rats had been in the trunk — not just droppings, but chunks of paper had bite marks on the corners, and chew-sized pieces of other pages were missing.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 28 Sep. 2025
Surprisingly eloquent, Hawk compared finalists Richard Hatch and Kelly Wiglesworth to snakes and rats, respectively.
—Steve Helling, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
The Broncos’ first three drives Sunday went for three straight three-and-outs, a haunted house of penalties, ineffective run-blocking and personnel scattering on and off the field like lab rats.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 22 Sep. 2025
Garlic and Onion Unlike most humans, rats detest the smell of onions and garlic.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Sep. 2025
Many different types of rodents may be digging up your yard, including squirrels, chipmunks, and even rats.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 21 Sep. 2025
An early sign of what was to come arrived with Mao’s official adoption of Lysenko’s ideas and the launching of the Four Pests Campaign in 1958, aimed at eliminating rats, flies, mosquitoes, and sparrows.
—Scott Montgomery, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rats
Noun
-
Privacy advocates have expressed concern that the company’s cameras and accompanying Neighbors app have heightened the risk of racial profiling and turned residents into informants, with few guardrails around how law enforcement can use the material.—
Annie Palmer,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Sanders had uncovered in 2014 that Rackauckas’ prosecutors and sheriff’s deputies for years had illegally used jailhouse informants to coax confessions from defendants who had attorneys, in violation of their right to counsel.—
Tony Saavedra,
Oc Register,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
In her novel, Henry chronicles a slow-burn, friends-to-lovers romance with lots of fun travels.—
Lexy Perez,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Miami Takes the Top Spot Miami, Florida, ranked as the number one city for food lovers, excelling in both affordability and food diversity.—
Soo Kim,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Most of the signs of overstimulation for animals like dogs and cats can also apply to capybara.—
Gillian Stawiszynski,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The two dogs met during the 2024 British Grand Prix weekend, with both Hamilton and Leclerc sharing photos and videos of the meeting on social media.—
Patrick Iversen,
New York Times,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Since buying the property in 2013, Swift has drawn fans to Bay Street, the village's main drag of clothing boutiques and ice cream counters, all checklist items on the Swiftie itinerary.—
Bryan West,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
-
Cardi also delivered new tracks for fans to enjoy within the first week of Drama?—
Armon Sadler,
VIBE.com,
29 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
These early jolts serve as canaries in the coal mine.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Media attention has focused on the travails of big cities such as Los Angeles, but smaller cities might be the canaries in the coal mine.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
6 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The denizens of Pynchon’s worlds often serve to personify and expose a nuanced message about society or humanity.—
Andrew McGowan,
Variety,
26 Sep. 2025
-
What follows is a dramedy that is simultaneously an anthropological examination of the film industry’s denizens and a disturbing — though often very funny — look at the fragility of identity in that world.—
Jim Hemphill,
IndieWire,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For Jones, that means confronting her childhood fear of clowns.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
-
In an operating room, a mad doctor performs plastic surgery to turn new recruits into killer clowns.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The National Hurricane Center's forecast track warns a new system, to be named Imelda, could stall offshore and dump heavy rain on the Southeast.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
-
But the Urban Institute warns that won’t be nearly enough to cover future obligations.—
Jesus Mesa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rats.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rats. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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