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
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Recent Examples of rattling
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
Jomana Karadsheh, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
That includes the stories behind the backboard-rattling dunks and blocks on the basketball court.
—Tracy Kimball, Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026
Conflict in the Middle East is rattling energy markets, pushing up the cost of natural gas—the backbone of nitrogen fertilizer production—and exposing once again just how vulnerable farmers and families are to shocks beyond their control.
—Carlos Alvarado Quesada, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2026
Though brief, Yoon’s martial law decree threw the country into a severe political crisis, paralyzing politics and high-level diplomacy and rattling financial markets.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
But then, after weeks of saber rattling, the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran.
—Bella Bromberg, ARTnews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Fermin, who has taken mask-rattling shots fairly frequently this season, was joking and talking with teammates after the game.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Teen takeovers are rattling Washington DC, as a string of large, unsupervised gatherings this spring has led to disruptions, police responses and growing concern among city leaders.
—Mike Stunson, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
Shaking global oil markets In a report published on Tuesday, April 14, the International Energy Agency (IEA) noted that global oil demand is set to decline in 2026 due to the war in Iran, which is disrupting supply flows and rattling markets.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 14 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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
London — Two Jewish men were stabbed in broad daylight in a leafy suburb of north London on Wednesday in what police described as a terrorist incident, further rattling a Jewish community already reeling from a series of antisemitic attacks in the British capital.
—Jomana Karadsheh, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2026
That includes the stories behind the backboard-rattling dunks and blocks on the basketball court.
—Tracy Kimball, Charlotte Observer, 29 Apr. 2026
Conflict in the Middle East is rattling energy markets, pushing up the cost of natural gas—the backbone of nitrogen fertilizer production—and exposing once again just how vulnerable farmers and families are to shocks beyond their control.
—Carlos Alvarado Quesada, Fortune, 27 Apr. 2026
Though brief, Yoon’s martial law decree threw the country into a severe political crisis, paralyzing politics and high-level diplomacy and rattling financial markets.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
But then, after weeks of saber rattling, the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran.
—Bella Bromberg, ARTnews.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Fermin, who has taken mask-rattling shots fairly frequently this season, was joking and talking with teammates after the game.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Teen takeovers are rattling Washington DC, as a string of large, unsupervised gatherings this spring has led to disruptions, police responses and growing concern among city leaders.
—Mike Stunson, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026
Shaking global oil markets In a report published on Tuesday, April 14, the International Energy Agency (IEA) noted that global oil demand is set to decline in 2026 due to the war in Iran, which is disrupting supply flows and rattling markets.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 14 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rattling
Adjective
-
Even more troubling, predatory supplement companies target youth with deceptive claims about the safety and efficacy of these products, claiming users will lose a rapid amount of weight or achieve a perfect body.—
Jad Abdel Nour,
Hartford Courant,
4 May 2026
-
Innovation is the driving force behind societal progress, with rapid advancements occurring at a faster pace than ever before in human history.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
Adverb
-
These special releases can be extremely valuable, especially if only a small batch is issued.—
Nina Derwin,
Martha Stewart,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The innermost region of any solar system, closest to the parent star, will be extremely hot and subject to large amounts of radiation.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Nor any pebble clattering down the medieval stones, plinking into the tea- colored water.—
Ellen Bass,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
-
Now the cows are waiting expectantly outside the milking parlor, where Archie is clattering about to set up the milking machine.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In a recent video of the evening posted on TikTok, the former couple can be seen chatting amidst the crowd.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
1 May 2026
-
Anna Wintour, Vogue’s global editorial director, was seen chatting with other guests, next to Parker.—
Elise Hammond,
CNN Money,
29 Apr. 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
-
Two batters into the top of the sixth, a sudden, aggressive rain began pouring down on Citizens Bank Park, prompting a brisk 24-minute delay.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
-
When the news came that a horse had scratched, a great stir rose, and several of the groomsmen who were sitting in the stalls with their horse wards scurried to start their brisk brushing to get the pine shavings off and used their jute sacks to spit-shine the coats slick.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
30 Apr. 2026
Adverb
-
This other cousin is now in her mid-70s and has always enjoyed a very luxurious life due to the business success of her father – my uncle – and our grandfather.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
-
With the naked eye and especially through good binoculars, its conjunction with a slender crescent moon on May 18 will be very pleasing to see.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rattling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rattling. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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