as in rapid
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed
we drove off at a rattling pace
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in extremely
to a great degree
a rattling good storyteller
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in clattering
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 chatting
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 rambling
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 embarrassing
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 rattling
New Atlas, 18 May 2026
And then there’s Bottner’s singing voice; from the deepest corner of his lungs comes a commanding bellow with a low, rattling timbre, like a cross between Bill Callahan and Jason Molina.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 22 Apr. 2026
Their play is a symphony of cheers and swishes, conversation and laughter, dribbling balls and rattling rims.
—Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2026
But others, where relentless, shelter-soaking rain is the aggressor, are no less vivid and terrifying, amplified by the rattling, percussive intensity of extraordinary sound design by Lena Esquenazi, Valeria Mancheva and Antonio Porem.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 Feb. 2026
Other than visible dirt and dust, signs that your bathroom exhaust fan needs cleaning includes a rattling or buzzing sound, reduced airflow, or excess moisture along the walls.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2025
Here a number of the emigrants who arrived late were stowed away on a rattling floor of cane, covered with hides.
—Gary Kamiya, SFChronicle.com, 2 Oct. 2020
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Just the title, with its three abrupt syllables, becomes the echo of a century’s rattling sabres.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 14 May 2026
It’s caused when the vocal cords slacken, leading to irregular vibration and an audible cracking or rattling sound as air is released in spurts.
—ArsTechnica, 14 May 2026
Iran has largely blocked the strategic waterway that’s key to the global flow of oil, natural gas and fertilizer since the war began, rattling world markets.
—Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 10 May 2026
Fatu shockingly kicked out at two to a roof-rattling reaction.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Ukraine’s long-range attacks deep inside Russia are rattling the Kremlin.
—ABC News, 8 May 2026
Leading figures in the shipping industry told NBC News that until there is a long-term deal to end the uncertainty backed by specific guarantees, the traffic jam rattling the global economy will not be resolved.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 6 May 2026
That includes the stories behind the backboard-rattling dunks and blocks on the basketball court.
—Tracy Kimball, Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
With all these features and a unique design that eliminates all the rattling and imprecise grips of conventional wrenches, this tool could find frequent use in your workshop.
—New Atlas, 18 May 2026
And then there’s Bottner’s singing voice; from the deepest corner of his lungs comes a commanding bellow with a low, rattling timbre, like a cross between Bill Callahan and Jason Molina.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 22 Apr. 2026
Their play is a symphony of cheers and swishes, conversation and laughter, dribbling balls and rattling rims.
—Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 13 Mar. 2026
But others, where relentless, shelter-soaking rain is the aggressor, are no less vivid and terrifying, amplified by the rattling, percussive intensity of extraordinary sound design by Lena Esquenazi, Valeria Mancheva and Antonio Porem.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 22 Feb. 2026
Other than visible dirt and dust, signs that your bathroom exhaust fan needs cleaning includes a rattling or buzzing sound, reduced airflow, or excess moisture along the walls.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 11 Dec. 2025
Here a number of the emigrants who arrived late were stowed away on a rattling floor of cane, covered with hides.
—Gary Kamiya, SFChronicle.com, 2 Oct. 2020
Verb
This nerve-rattling sequence that leaves three of the Khachaturian men dead is a wrenching depiction of innocent casualties brought down by split-second combat decisions.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 15 May 2026
Just the title, with its three abrupt syllables, becomes the echo of a century’s rattling sabres.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 14 May 2026
It’s caused when the vocal cords slacken, leading to irregular vibration and an audible cracking or rattling sound as air is released in spurts.
—ArsTechnica, 14 May 2026
Iran has largely blocked the strategic waterway that’s key to the global flow of oil, natural gas and fertilizer since the war began, rattling world markets.
—Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 10 May 2026
Fatu shockingly kicked out at two to a roof-rattling reaction.
—Blake Oestriecher, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Ukraine’s long-range attacks deep inside Russia are rattling the Kremlin.
—ABC News, 8 May 2026
Leading figures in the shipping industry told NBC News that until there is a long-term deal to end the uncertainty backed by specific guarantees, the traffic jam rattling the global economy will not be resolved.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 6 May 2026
That includes the stories behind the backboard-rattling dunks and blocks on the basketball court.
—Tracy Kimball, Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rattling
Adjective
-
Now, a new study suggests researchers may have found the first drug regimen capable of rapid and sustaining relief from suicidal thoughts across a broad group of patients.—
Ariana Eunjung Cha,
Washington Post,
19 May 2026
-
Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, the deputy secretary-general, said that given the high level of movement of people and goods across the region, coordinated preparedness and rapid information sharing are essential to preventing cross-border transmission.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 May 2026
Adverb
-
But even Black athletes whose athleticism gifted them an extremely exclusive express lane in life can tell you stories about growing up a minority in America, or tales their parents or grandparents have told.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
14 May 2026
-
The theory of quantum electrodynamics (QED) suggests that when light at extremely high intensities interacts with the vacuum, it can be converted into matter.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
That can mean a cycle of scraping chairs, rolling carts, and clattering equipment at times when most passengers expect quiet.—
David Nikel,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
-
The boom bap volume had been turned to LOUD, the crowd had mobbed every roof, railing and bit of space with even an inch of a view of the ramps, and with every cool trick came the thundering sound of skateboards clattering on the deck in approval from fellow skaters.—
Tony Le Calvez,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Then, almost two years into the investigation, Langston stopped by the police station and was chatting with a different administrator, who asked Langston whether the initial search had also been conducted in an older database that not everybody on staff knew about.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
-
When chatting at the Future 50 last summer, Green spoke for more than 12 minutes about his top schools and did not mention Georgia until the program was brought up.—
Jeff Sentell,
AJC.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Throughout the latter two videos, Ivey spoke to the camera while driving his car and rambling through various evangelical talking points.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Mar. 2026
-
This rambling 1,200-acre Southern California ranch has both and much more, plus a supremely private and scenic locale on the outskirts of the historic community of San Juan Capistrano.—
Wendy Bowman,
Robb Report,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Lutnick's voluntary closed-door interview comes amid a monthslong procession of powerful people summoned before the committee, many of whom have been subjected to embarrassing revelations in the more than 3 million pages of records known as the Epstein files.—
Graham Kates,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
-
The Game 4 defeat – the no-silver-lining, embarrassing 6-1 loss – left a particularly rancid taste in everyone’s mouth.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
For their previous outings, Queen Camilla merged her two favorite British designers into one look, wearing a cream Fiona Clare dress with pink and blue florals throughout and a blue Anna Valentine wrap coat to stay warm amid Belfast’s brisk temperatures.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
20 May 2026
-
Business is brisk elsewhere in Asia too.—
Phil Wahba,
Fortune,
19 May 2026
Adverb
-
To be sure, these were very different presidents.—
William Muck,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
-
And Martha Stewart is just like me, for real—the most inexpensive product in her skin care routine is a $10 Mario Badescu body lotion, and on the very polar opposite end, the most expensive is a $2,695 laser device.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rattling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rattling. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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