rug rat

noun

Definition of rug ratnext
slang
as in preschooler

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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 rug rat In a bid to increase his nation’s number of rug rats, Władysław Grochowski, owner of one of Poland’s biggest hotel chains, has pledged to throw a party for every couple who conceives while staying at his properties. — Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 4 Oct. 2025 Your standard maternal protagonist is not dropping a trail of pacifiers behind her, swilling goblets of red wine the minute her rug rats are in bed, and secretly vaping in the linen closet? — Chloe Schama, Vogue, 14 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rug rat
  1. preschooler
  2. minor
  3. adolescent
  4. kindergartner
  5. schoolboy
  6. schoolchild
  7. infant
  8. newborn
Noun
  • Create a Consistent Morning Routine Getting out the door with a preschooler (or two) in tow can feel like a marathon in the morning, but with a bit of structure and a lot of empathy, the transition can be seamless.
    — Parents, Parents, 22 July 2026
  • For a preschooler, the cost was $1,121 at a home and $1,271 at a center.
    — Kate Sequeira, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of preschooler
Noun
  • And then police wrote her a misdemeanor citation for three charges, including contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
    — Diamy Wang August 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Santiago and Teague were arraigned on Monday on the same charges, with Teague also charged with resisting arrest, while Rodriguez Diaz was arraigned on Monday on a single misdemeanor count of meeting a minor for lewd purposes.
    — Carlos E. Castañeda, CBS News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of minor
Noun
  • One adolescent possibly had contact with the bat, officials said.
    — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 3 Aug. 2026
  • YouTube comedian Bo Burnham directs this empathetic portrait of Kayla (Elsie Fisher), an insecure adolescent who posts motivational vlogs on YouTube while privately struggling with her self-image and burgeoning sexuality.
    — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026
Definition of adolescent
Noun
  • Justin Vu, a soon-to-be kindergartener, his mom and sisters had traveled from their home in Denver and were enjoying a visit with family filled with trips to places like the beach and zoo, KGW News reported.
    — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 31 July 2026
  • My new kindergartner especially is feeling all the big feels about school.
    — Melissa Willets, Parents, 6 July 2026
Definition of kindergartner
Noun
  • Khaite and Dior turn tailored trousers into schoolboy bermudas while Maria McManus and Isabel Marant make pedal-pushing leggings look cooler than ever.
    — Rosie Jarman, Vogue, 10 July 2026
  • As Prime Minister, Howard—a lifelong conservative who has lived abroad once, campaigning for the Tories in London—was known for having an almost schoolboy zeal for the job.
    — Oscar Schwartz, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Definition of schoolboy
Noun
  • Would that every schoolchild could stand on the grassy knoll for a quiet minute, pondering the imponderables.
    — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 26 May 2026
  • Provincial transport department official Siboniso Duma said in a statement that 11 people, including a schoolchild, died at the scene, although that was according to preliminary information.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 30 Jan. 2026
Definition of schoolchild
Noun
  • Last week, her best friend asked her to take care of her infant child if she got detained.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The infant was found unresponsive inside the home near Flatlands Ave.
    — Colin Mixson, New York Daily News, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of infant
Noun
  • Preliminary findings published last year in JAMA showed that among the first 4,000 newborns screened, the test identified serious genetic conditions in just under 4% of the children.
    — Brad Quick, CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Last year, Procter used NFL games to reach parents with messages about Pampers, one of its biggest brands, and invited them to share photos of newborns on Instagram or TikTok for a chance to win a year’s supply of diapers.
    — Brian Steinberg, Variety, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of newborn

Browse Nearby Words

ruggedness
rug rat
rug rats
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Cite this Entry

“Rug rat.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rug%20rat. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

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