rumbling 1 of 2

Definition of rumblingnext

rumbling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of rumble
as in growling
to make a low heavy rolling sound when thunder rumbled in the distant sky, we wisely began packing up our picnic

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 rumbling
Noun
The lighting was bright and red, the thunder was a long deep rumbling. Kaijing Xiao, ABC News, 12 Oct. 2025 But residents recounted the quake rattling them awake, evoking descriptions of a significant jolt and rumbling. Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
Leaving the shrieking and rumbling aside, the Verge-Donut team say their bikes, motors, and batteries overcome those challenges. IEEE Spectrum, 9 Jan. 2026 Cellos and basses may be rumbling along on a frighteningly low melody, as the woodwinds are pecking like a riot in a chicken coop, while the high strings are sustaining a cluster of odd, disconcerting notes. Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rumbling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rumbling
Noun
  • Katie Von Schleicher, another quietly hypnotic singer-songwriter, lends some light synth and background vocals to West’s compositions, while Nate Mendelsohn blows breath into some single, whisper-quiet saxophone lines.
    Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 3 Mar. 2026
  • For the past six months, whispers of a federal investigation echoed inside and around City Hall, the 29-story skyscraper in downtown Kansas City.
    Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 3 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • Then, while there was still enough light to see them plainly, the two came stalking out of the brush, growling and muttering.
    Doris DeCleene, Outdoor Life, 25 Feb. 2026
  • Customers miss the growling revving of gas vehicles with noisy internal combustion engines, the CEO noted.
    Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Don’t bother whispering, though; the rule applies only to the trains.
    Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
  • The whispering earring is a little topaz gem that speaks to you.
    Sam Kriss, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • Sure, there’s the intimation of a world gone to pieces, whether from a quantum apocalypse or an ecological catastrophe; there’s the presentation of a modern self, stripped of its qualities and evacuated of purpose.
    Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The intimation of topography is confirmed by the label: Ngayartu Kujarra is the Punmu name for a seasonal salt lake also known as Lake Dora.
    Susan Tallman, The Atlantic, 2 Feb. 2026
Noun
  • The actress joined a crowd that included Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Emily Ratajkowski, Shay Mitchell, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Macaulay Culkin on Tuesday in Paris, her blonde bob tucked behind her ears, her glam perfect with a hint of a rosy cheek, a delicate smoky eye, and a pink lip.
    Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 3 Mar. 2026
  • The best sesame dressings have intense toasted sesame flavor, lots of zesty ginger, a hint of sugar and an ample dash of salt.
    Jolene Thym, Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • The noise disappears as the reading party begins.
    Sofia Zarran, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2026
  • The suit alleged the developers violated a development agreement and would bring pollution, noise and traffic to a nearby neighborhood.
    Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
  • Authorities searching the home were likely looking for computers and phones to determine if the suspect read any propaganda or left any writings indicating his plans, an official told CNN.
    Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 3 Mar. 2026
  • The hermit kingdom became a powerhouse after the regime invested heavily in the women’s game as a tool of soft power and propaganda.
    Harriet Marsden, TheWeek, 3 Mar. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rumbling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rumbling. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on rumbling

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster