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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
Arkansas Online, 6 June 2026
Tthere’s fiddle and harmonica in the mix and the percussion covers everything from a rattling train car sound to a rampaging elephant.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2026
On social media, residents across the area described the earthquake jolting their homes and rattling windows and doors.
—William B. Davis, New York Times, 4 June 2026
Chatter of a screwworm detection had already been building this week, rattling the US cattle industry.
—ArsTechnica, 3 June 2026
With violence erupting without warning from every corner — and the battle sounds on the soundtrack adding to the tension — wounded soldiers with limited supplies must perform delicate surgery despite shaking hands and rattling floors.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 29 May 2026
Despite the mothballed plant's handsome brick exterior, inside it's filled with rattling pipes, hazard signs and cockroach carcasses.
—Ishan Thakore, NPR, 20 May 2026
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
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
The uncertainty is not only rattling European allies worried about the message being sent to Russia, but also risks hurting morale among American troops -- some of whom had their rotations canceled shortly before departure -- and comes as the Army budget is already strained.
—Arkansas Online, 6 June 2026
Tthere’s fiddle and harmonica in the mix and the percussion covers everything from a rattling train car sound to a rampaging elephant.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 4 June 2026
On social media, residents across the area described the earthquake jolting their homes and rattling windows and doors.
—William B. Davis, New York Times, 4 June 2026
Chatter of a screwworm detection had already been building this week, rattling the US cattle industry.
—ArsTechnica, 3 June 2026
With violence erupting without warning from every corner — and the battle sounds on the soundtrack adding to the tension — wounded soldiers with limited supplies must perform delicate surgery despite shaking hands and rattling floors.
—Jordan Hoffman, Entertainment Weekly, 29 May 2026
Despite the mothballed plant's handsome brick exterior, inside it's filled with rattling pipes, hazard signs and cockroach carcasses.
—Ishan Thakore, NPR, 20 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rattling
Adjective
-
According to the health ministry, the main challenges in containing the outbreak include early detection and rapid isolation of cases, rigorous contact tracing, safe and dignified burials and strengthening infection prevention and control in health facilities.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 June 2026
-
Having scored for fun at youth level, his rise was rapid.—
Tim Spiers,
New York Times,
1 June 2026
Adverb
-
Canfield, as proven by her work in Stereophonic, is extremely able at playing a character with a pristine, almost porcelain surface and roiling depths.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
5 June 2026
-
This has been extremely traumatic for both of us, especially Ashley.—
Emily St. Martin,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2026
Verb
-
Below them, clattering on a dozen parallel tracks, the trains were coming and going, arriving and departing, thundering underground.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Skeletor is all pixels with a clattering jaw perfect for chewing the scenery.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
3 June 2026
Verb
-
Last season Hustus handled more than 16,000 lobsters all while chatting animatedly with visitors from around the world—and often introducing them to their first tastes of lobster.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
Attendees seemed keen to squeeze as much networking as possible out of the gala, often chatting with their associates and neighbors during speakers’ remarks.—
Jared Perlo,
NBC news,
6 June 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
-
Then to Sydney Harbour, the very scene of that embarrassing capsize exactly a year earlier, and the Americans won the event outright for a first win since October 2023.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
Alternatively, if exercising within four hours of bedtime, opt for short-duration, light-to-moderate-intensity exercises, such as brisk walking, or slow jogging for 30 minutes.—
Colleen Doherty,
Verywell Health,
27 May 2026
-
Given the brisk start then, is there still hope that the best is yet to come?—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
23 May 2026
Adverb
-
When Gary Vernon began riding mountain bikes in Arkansas almost 40 years ago, there was very little infrastructure intended for riders without deep experience—or a devil-may-care attitude.—
Arati Menon,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 June 2026
-
But that, believe it or not, isn't very big for here.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rattling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rattling. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
