rattle 1 of 2

Definition of rattlenext

rattle

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to clatter
to make a series of short sharp noises the children tromped through the kitchen, making the plates on the shelf rattle

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
as in to ramble
to talk at length without sticking to a topic or getting to a point she rattled on and on about all her European shopping trips, but I wasn't really listening

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb rattle contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rattle are abash, discomfit, disconcert, and embarrass. While all these words mean "to distress by confusing or confounding," rattle implies an agitation that impairs thought and judgment.

rattled by all the television cameras

When might abash be a better fit than rattle?

Although the words abash and rattle have much in common, abash presupposes some initial self-confidence that receives a sudden check, producing shyness, shame, or a feeling of inferiority.

abashed by her swift and cutting retort

When could discomfit be used to replace rattle?

While in some cases nearly identical to rattle, discomfit implies a hampering or frustrating accompanied by confusion.

hecklers discomfited the speaker

When is disconcert a more appropriate choice than rattle?

The words disconcert and rattle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, disconcert implies an upsetting of equanimity or assurance producing uncertainty or hesitancy.

disconcerted by finding so many in attendance

When would embarrass be a good substitute for rattle?

In some situations, the words embarrass and rattle are roughly equivalent. However, embarrass implies some influence that impedes thought, speech, or action.

the question embarrassed her so much she couldn't answer

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of rattle
Noun
Rattlesnakes can be recognized by the distinct sound their rattles make. Don Sweeney april 21, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026 This isn’t alt-country so much as death-rattle country, as though Grigoroff and Adducci took Hank Williams’ most wincingly lonesome numbers as a starting point but figured the tempos were a little too fast. Zach Schonfeld, Pitchfork, 17 Apr. 2026
Verb
Roses bloomed in creamy peaches and pinks, rattled, in their buds, by an unusual wind. Paige Williams, New Yorker, 22 June 2026 The subsequent fallout rattled the school community as factions celebrated and condemned the decision. Spin Team, SPIN, 22 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for rattle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rattle
Noun
  • Gratitude on a stage has rarely seemed more palpable than in Williams basking in the glow of the arena roar; here is someone who, in the spirit of Dylan and the actual words of Doe, has been beyond and back.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 21 June 2026
  • Video taken from Vestavia Hills, a community in central Alabama, showed brown floodwater inundating local streets amid the roar of rain.
    Denise Chow, NBC news, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • Many people watching the game on TV were surprised, since replays seemed to suggest Freuler had been offside before being clattered by Abunada.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 13 June 2026
  • Below them, clattering on a dozen parallel tracks, the trains were coming and going, arriving and departing, thundering underground.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
Verb
  • These hard-sided, pop-top adventure trucks look so cool that strangers will stop to chat with you — guaranteed.
    Sarah Sekula, USA Today, 24 June 2026
  • While Yahia chats with The Star, his daughter, Hannah, takes a tray of baklava out of the oven.
    Jenna Thompson June 24, Kansas City Star, 24 June 2026
Verb
  • Cars lined the streets looking for parking spots as people rambled through the bustling marketplace at Clock Tower Landing.
    Kendrick Calfee June 6, Kansas City Star, 6 June 2026
  • Stories abound about people who ramble, jump from one thought to the next, and communicate in a manner that makes others around them suspect that the person is tired and overworked.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
Verb
  • Critics wondered whether prices would crash before kickoff, and if swathes of empty seats would embarrass FIFA’s pricing strategy.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 19 June 2026
  • With no league and no roadmap, a ragtag group of players and an unlikely coach endured a grueling two-year training camp, hoping simply not to embarrass their nation at the first-ever World Cup on American soil.
    Brent Lang, Variety, 17 June 2026
Noun
  • But residents who live near hyperscale centers have expressed outrage over a range of issues, including health impacts, spiking utility bills, constant noise, dropping water pressure and concerns about potentially losing their land through eminent domain.
    Katie King, Los Angeles Times, 21 June 2026
  • Some carried placards and others banged plates, their noise cutting through the crowd protesting and demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
    ABC News, ABC News, 20 June 2026
Verb
  • Robert, talk me through the thinking behind this framing.
    Dana Taylor, USA Today, 23 June 2026
  • Seconds later, Hines-Allen decided she was done talking and shoved Bonner.
    Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2026
Verb
  • Lightweight, packable flats are an underrated cruise wardrobe MVP, and these Skechers Bobs slip on in a second for everything from casual deck days to wandering the promenade after dinner.
    Robin Raven, Travel + Leisure, 22 June 2026
  • But people who spend time around livestock — including kids who visit relatives’ ranches, ride at lesson barns or wander the Stockyards on a weekend — should know what an infestation looks like and report anything unusual to a veterinarian.
    Ciara McCarthy. Produced with AI assistance, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rattle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rattle. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

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