as in noises
loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound
I'd go nuts if I had to endure the rattle of that bottling plant every day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in chats
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 rambles
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
as in embarrasses
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of rattles
Don Sweeney
april 21, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Cunningham’s Fisher-Price pianos and decrepit drums are unmistakable, as is Ciani’s Buchla, which whooshes and rattles like a steam engine barreling down the tracks.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
Most people initially become aware of the reptiles by hearing their rattles, which the snakes use to try to scare off aggressors or to distract prey.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
If your current carry-on rattles, tips, or barely survives a weekend away, consider this your sign.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2026
Silver engraving, masks, totem poles, rattles, prints.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
Cutlery, rattles and cups are among the most popular choices as keepsake gifts for newborns.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Think things like rattles, balls, activity gyms, and more.
—Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 2 Oct. 2025
The lack of an internal-combustion engine means that any EV manufacturer needs to solve for additional NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness), so RBW went down the rabbit hole chasing creaks and rattles.
—Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Fans will have to tune in next week to find out Andrea's fate — and see if her abduction rattles Kayce.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Another family quietly grieves in North Carolina While the string of attacks rattles several communities in Georgia, Prianna Weathers’ mother mourns privately in her North Carolina home.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026
The film rattles enough skeletons, both on screen and in the audience, to ensure that Cronin’s name will be remembered by genre heads with or without the titular reminder.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
Trump’s Iran threat rattles GOP as some Republicans break ranks.
—FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
The threat rattles Reef and prompts him to apologize to all the major figures from his past whom he's offended or hurt over the years.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Apr. 2026
Emma’s shocking admission rattles the entire wedding party, particularly Haim’s Rachel, whose cousin was left paralyzed by an act of gun violence.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 3 Apr. 2026
In Walker Percy’s novel The Moviegoer, the hero, Binx Bolling, tells us that there is an invisible Geiger counter in his head that rattles loudly whenever a Jew passes by.
—Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
The snakes can, however, lose their rattles or simply decide not to use them.
—Don Sweeney
april 21, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Cunningham’s Fisher-Price pianos and decrepit drums are unmistakable, as is Ciani’s Buchla, which whooshes and rattles like a steam engine barreling down the tracks.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
Most people initially become aware of the reptiles by hearing their rattles, which the snakes use to try to scare off aggressors or to distract prey.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
If your current carry-on rattles, tips, or barely survives a weekend away, consider this your sign.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2026
Silver engraving, masks, totem poles, rattles, prints.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
Cutlery, rattles and cups are among the most popular choices as keepsake gifts for newborns.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Think things like rattles, balls, activity gyms, and more.
—Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 2 Oct. 2025
The lack of an internal-combustion engine means that any EV manufacturer needs to solve for additional NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness), so RBW went down the rabbit hole chasing creaks and rattles.
—Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Verb
The Iran war is fundamentally reshaping the oil industry, as geopolitical volatility rattles traders and derails expectations of a Middle East drilling boom.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Fans will have to tune in next week to find out Andrea's fate — and see if her abduction rattles Kayce.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
Another family quietly grieves in North Carolina While the string of attacks rattles several communities in Georgia, Prianna Weathers’ mother mourns privately in her North Carolina home.
—Holly Yan, CNN Money, 17 Apr. 2026
The film rattles enough skeletons, both on screen and in the audience, to ensure that Cronin’s name will be remembered by genre heads with or without the titular reminder.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
Trump’s Iran threat rattles GOP as some Republicans break ranks.
—FOXNews.com, 8 Apr. 2026
The threat rattles Reef and prompts him to apologize to all the major figures from his past whom he's offended or hurt over the years.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Apr. 2026
Emma’s shocking admission rattles the entire wedding party, particularly Haim’s Rachel, whose cousin was left paralyzed by an act of gun violence.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 3 Apr. 2026
In Walker Percy’s novel The Moviegoer, the hero, Binx Bolling, tells us that there is an invisible Geiger counter in his head that rattles loudly whenever a Jew passes by.
—Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rattles
Noun
-
The first clip showed Duff making cat and bird noises as Townes, who turns 2 on May 3, played with her hair and smiled at the camera.—
Kirsty Hatcher,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Plus sundry hallucinations, bad dreams, possession, dark spaces, creepy noises, fraught family relations — and, as with so many horror stories, a bad thing in the past bringing down the future.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Then, a mannequin clatters to the floor from the ceiling and breaks apart.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
20 Nov. 2025
-
Deacon clatters off in his truck, leaving me to contemplate my new home.—
Rowan Jacobsen,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Rooster star Steve Carell chats about his latest show at HBO's Rooster Emmy FYC Event on April 26 in Los Angeles.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Honey Cooper chats with Professor Nader Gergis before attending his class on Wednesday.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Kachina rambles for 5 miles but the most vibrant color is found on the first half of the hike.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The residence rambles over more than 14,500 square feet with 13 bedrooms and nine and a half baths.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Now the technology embarrasses an umpire even more than a player could, and what’s the recourse?—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
-
But the stunt goes south as Wooley turns out to be an unabashed bigot who embarrasses the show and gets scolded by the host.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
There were no roars of restaurant chatter and excitement from happy guests.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
16 Apr. 2026
-
Most of the time, the creature is invisible, only given away by roars or its footprints in the soil of this extra-terrestrial world.—
Richard Edwards,
Space.com,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Below, Weisman talks with THR about the difficult conversations in the writers’ room about presenting the interracial friend group onscreen, considering an alternative killer and the message the series sends about the danger shame and secrets pose to women.—
Brande Victorian,
HollywoodReporter,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Ahead, Fields talks determination in pursuit of a dream, following your instincts and fostering relationships.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In the clip, Rodrigo wanders through the Palace of Versailles, running from room to room before strapping on a pink guitar and rocking out.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The 56-year-old Williams has since found his mind often wanders through hazes of grief to memories of Thomas.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
18 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rattles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rattles. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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