as in upset
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1
as in clattered
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
as in chatted
to engage in casual or rambling conversation
busily rattling away about our vacation plans, we didn't listen to the announcements and missed our flight
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in rambled
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
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4
as in embarrassed
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
don't let a little mistake rattle you while you're playing during the piano recital
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Recent Examples of rattled
Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Chad De Guzman, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
But a turnover from San Diego State leading scorer BJ Davis (22) gave Boise State senior guard Dylan Andrews the chance to win the game at the buzzer; however, his midrange jumper over a defender rattled inside the rim and back out as the buzzer sounded.
—Idaho Statesman, 4 Jan. 2026
That year, Chris Christie flipped New Jersey’s governorship, Bob McDonnell won the Virginia governor’s race in a landslide, and months later, Republican Scott Brown captured a Massachusetts Senate seat in a January 2010 special election, an upset that rattled Democrats.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 1 Jan. 2026
The defense, which rattled Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin early and finished with five sacks plus the two interceptions, got a needed stop midway through the fourth quarter to keep the lead intact.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026
Once the employee gets rattled, the attackers will direct them to a fake helpdesk or HR website to input their login credentials.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Jan. 2026
But the last five or so years have left people feeling economically rattled — enough so that some of these milestones are getting delayed, re-ordered or pushed out altogether, especially for the younger cohort.
—Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
Your emotional roots may be rattled today.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
But the message has rattled producers and sales agents who rely on foreign subsidies, soft money and multi-territory deals to make budgets work.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
His praise came several months after some of the president's loudest supporters called Barrett squishy, a rattled law professor and a DEI hire for siding against the administration on one of the president’s many emergency appeals.
—Maureen Groppe, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
But his threat came as widespread protests—fueled by a devaluing currency and rapid inflation—have rattled the country in the past week, leading to violent clashes involving security forces.
—Chad De Guzman, Time, 5 Jan. 2026
But a turnover from San Diego State leading scorer BJ Davis (22) gave Boise State senior guard Dylan Andrews the chance to win the game at the buzzer; however, his midrange jumper over a defender rattled inside the rim and back out as the buzzer sounded.
—Idaho Statesman, 4 Jan. 2026
That year, Chris Christie flipped New Jersey’s governorship, Bob McDonnell won the Virginia governor’s race in a landslide, and months later, Republican Scott Brown captured a Massachusetts Senate seat in a January 2010 special election, an upset that rattled Democrats.
—Samantha-Jo Roth, The Washington Examiner, 1 Jan. 2026
The defense, which rattled Buckeyes quarterback Julian Sayin early and finished with five sacks plus the two interceptions, got a needed stop midway through the fourth quarter to keep the lead intact.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 1 Jan. 2026
Once the employee gets rattled, the attackers will direct them to a fake helpdesk or HR website to input their login credentials.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Jan. 2026
But the last five or so years have left people feeling economically rattled — enough so that some of these milestones are getting delayed, re-ordered or pushed out altogether, especially for the younger cohort.
—Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2025
Your emotional roots may be rattled today.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 31 Dec. 2025
But the message has rattled producers and sales agents who rely on foreign subsidies, soft money and multi-territory deals to make budgets work.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rattled
Adjective
-
Mamdani's win was seen as an upset to the establishment, since the 67-year-old Cuomo is the son of a three-time New York governor and held the position himself for a decade beginning in 2011.—
Rachel Treisman,
NPR,
5 Nov. 2025
-
Boise State fans could have been upset when they were upset at home by Fresno State as their season continued to slide away from them.—
Kyle Feldscher,
CNN Money,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Andy clattered up the hill through the brush and pulled to a halt.—
Bob Cary,
Outdoor Life,
15 Oct. 2025
-
As Mathias Jensen’s 95th-minute strike clattered into the net, at once extinguishing Manchester United’s stuttering attempt to come back from two early goals down at Brentford on Saturday lunchtime, a lot of attention turned to the away dugout.—
Chris Weatherspoon,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Some teenage girls in matching hoodies chatted near the baggage claim carousel, and a group in traditional Orthodox Jewish garb congregated on the curb outside terminal 3.—
N'dea Yancey-Bragg,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Older students chatted with friends, while younger ones focused on pedaling.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Drew Mestemaker threw for 366 yards and three touchdowns while Caleb Hawkins rambled for 186 yards and four scores on 25 carries.—
Ben Verbrugge,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Dec. 2025
-
His speech was unhinged, often not founded in fact, and rambled badly.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
French authorities have arrested several suspects after a frantic manhunt for the men who staged a spectacular daytime heist at the Louvre museum that gripped the world and embarrassed the government in Paris.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
26 Oct. 2025
-
The Revolution provided a brief scare through a 59th-minute goal from Dor Turgeman, who embarrassed a defender before curling home a spectacular effort, but Inter Miami broke the tie almost immediately after the strike that made the score 2-1.—
Franco Panizo,
Miami Herald,
5 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
So what exactly got the studio so hot and bothered?—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Despite his status as a pop culture icon for close to 50 years now, ‘Weird Al’ Yankovic has claimed he’s not terribly bothered about being overlooked by the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.—
Tyler Jenke,
Billboard,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Over the course of the three-day summit, attendees and Goldman leaders talked all things AI—from the most lucrative investments, to the tech’s impact on the environment, and its potential to innovate industries.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
9 Nov. 2025
-
His family never really talked to any of us.—
Abigail Van Buren,
Boston Herald,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Even with several adults nearby, including Bethany and her cousin, Emmie quietly wandered back toward the pool.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
-
On one of her first days at Mira Mesa High School, then-freshman Samantha Truong wandered into the gym, looking for a CIF girls tennis championship banner hanging on a wall.—
Don Norcross,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rattled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rattled. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.
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