rattling 1 of 3

rattling

2 of 3

adverb

rattling

3 of 3

verb

present participle of rattle
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
3
4

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 rattling
Adjective
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
No rattling wheels, no jolts, just a smooth, whisper-quiet ride. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025 At Chapman University, senior Zack Dell said the assassination has been rattling. Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 13 Sep. 2025 Tattoos covered his arms and head, his ride parked outside, rattling from all the bass the speakers hooked up in the trunk pushed. Manuel Muñoz, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025 One moment, the Sound of Sleat is a sheet of silver under a pale sun; the next, wind drives rain sideways into the distillery’s courtyard, rattling the pagoda roof. Gina Pace, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025 Dialogue stays crisp for late-night Netflix, and game audio feels punchy without rattling the shelves. Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025 The wind howled, rattling metal signs and tugging at our clothes as the dust swallowed everything in sight. Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 2 Sep. 2025 As in his previous films, a clanking, rattling soundscape constructed entirely in post is an artisanal marvel, immersing viewers both in the perilous metallic din of a maybe-sinking ship, and the comforting artifice of analog movie-making. Guy Lodge, Variety, 31 Aug. 2025 Immigration enforcement has been a core part of the crackdown, rattling immigrants and Latino American citizens in many of the city’s diverse neighborhoods. Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rattling
Adjective
  • Unrivaled also saw rapid growth across digital platforms during its first season.
    Roberta F. Rodrigues, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Instead of rapid expansion, Johnson focuses on sustainable growth.
    Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 10 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • Or consider the extremely rapid development of vaccines during the recent COVID pandemic.
    Alan Lightman September 12, Literary Hub, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Kirk has risen in popularity over the years for his extremely polarizing takes, which resulted in a heavy split among reactions to his passing.
    Regina Cho, VIBE.com, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Marseille’s supporters could be forgiven a sense of deja vu after seeing their club once again respond to the starting gun by clattering into the season’s first hurdle.
    Tom Williams, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2025
  • Each step sends shards of stone clattering downhill, debris once sealed beneath glacial ice.
    Molly Hunter, NBC news, 19 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The next generation For the original Bridge Crew, what worked was the camaraderie, the teamwork, and the feeling of chatting in the ready room with your friends about how to do the next mission.
    Daryl Baxter, Space.com, 12 Sep. 2025
  • In a statement to USA TODAY, Discord disputed statements that the messages were sent on the chatting platform.
    Davis Winkie, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • What on Earth was Gabriel rambling on about before, anyway?
    Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
  • Roger Naylor shares 10 favorite Arizona destinations from his 50 years of rambling here.
    Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The mother, being a mother, finds fault and has embarrassing politics.
    Nathaniel Moore September 10, Literary Hub, 10 Sep. 2025
  • On top of that already embarrassing history, Ravens longtime head coach John Harbaugh has made some unfortunate NFL history of his own.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • There are expressive aromas of bread, pear and yellow plum; medium-full, with a rich, layered mid-palate, there is excellent complexity, significant persistence, brisk acidity and outstanding harmony.
    Tom Hyland, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
  • If left on automatic, the GFX100RF prefers a 1/125-second exposure time, which is brisk enough to eliminate signs of handshake.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
Adverb
  • The player known as Dan the Man during his playing days remains very active in a lot of different arenas.
    Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
  • Some like to get to the airport very early, with time for a full picnic, while others are dashing in at the last minute while downing a protein bar.
    Jessie Beck, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rattling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rattling. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.

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