rustling 1 of 2

rustling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of rustle
1
as in grazing
to feed on grass or herbs just take the steer out to pasture and let it rustle for itself

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
as in crackling
to make small sounds usually by rubbing or moving my pet peeve is candy wrappers rustling during a movie

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 rustling
Noun
Upon arrival, the constant chime of notifications stops, replaced by the sounds of Gulf waves, the rustling of marsh grasses, and the calls of shorebirds. Gabi De La Rosa, Southern Living, 19 May 2026 From the anti-Trump side, meanwhile, the American people hear a nervous rustling of vague doubts. David Frum, The Atlantic, 3 Jan. 2026 In the teaser, above, Joanna, 47, can be seen speaking on-camera discussing the plans for the construction of the home on the balcony before a rustling can be heard coming from the woods behind her. Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025 The soft rustling of the tent flaps and the occasional distant dog barking underscored our vigil. Literary Hub, 13 Nov. 2025 But most exciting was any sudden splash, or a strange, distant cry, or a mysterious rustling in the thick shore brush. Ryan Knighton, AFAR Media, 31 Oct. 2025 Great gray owls hunt blind, flying low, listening to the faintest rustling of a mouse beneath snow. Kate Siber, Outside, 21 Oct. 2025 The dense canopy of trees, the rustling of leaves, and the interplay of light and shadow that evoke mood and emotions. Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
Keep your eyes peeled for evidence of nesting, such as shredded materials like paper and insulation, as well as rustling sounds in the walls. Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 22 May 2026 McCamish pointed to a nearby stand of cottonwood trees rustling in the wind. Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026 Spending a few moments taking in the rustling leaves outside your window or allowing a ladybug to land on your hand helps wash away the mental fatigue that might be weighing on your mood. Kyla Mandel, Time, 14 May 2026 Not a leaf rustling toward autumn. Ellen Bass, New Yorker, 4 May 2026 End your drive with a stay at Chinati Hot Springs, and soak in the steaming springwater beneath rustling cottonwoods and the glittering expanse of Texas stars. Eva Frederick, Travel + Leisure, 13 Apr. 2026 How Green Noise Differs From White Noise Green noise refers to a mid-frequency sound profile centered around 500 Hz that mimics nature sounds like ocean waves, gentle rain and rustling leaves. Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 7 Apr. 2026 Green noise is a mid-frequency sound profile centered around 500 Hz that mimics nature sounds like ocean waves, gentle rain and rustling leaves. Allison Palmer, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Apr. 2026 What Green Noise Actually Is Green noise is a mid-frequency sound profile centered around 500 Hz that mimics nature sounds like ocean waves, gentle rain and rustling leaves. Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rustling
Noun
  • Braising, steaming, roasting, sautéing, poaching, or grilling all work great.
    Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 June 2026
  • The animal's population has been heavily impacted by habitat loss, poaching and disease, such as Ebola.
    Julia Gomez, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Verb
  • Up close, the shaggy layers framed her face effortlessly, with the shortest layers brushing just past her eyes and the longest layers grazing her jaw bone.
    Chanel Vargas, InStyle, 6 June 2026
  • On the Slovakian side, the High Tatras deliver mountain lakes, waterfalls and flocks of sheep grazing among rocky crests.
    Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 4 June 2026
Verb
  • The only chilly part will be scurrying a few feet from the trailer door into the bathroom and back.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 1 June 2026
  • That’s because the ride has one of the best animatronic figures in SoCal, namely a black cat scurrying across a piano.
    Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • The wafting smell of buttery grits floats in the air and the sound of oil crackling in pans bounces off concrete walls.
    Delia Rose Sauer, Miami Herald, 11 June 2026
  • Fire began crackling like approaching rain on a recent morning in the Xerente Indigenous Territory in Tocantins in northern Brazil.
    ABC News, ABC News, 7 June 2026
Noun
  • The absence of an effective police force meant the looting was impossible to prevent.
    Amer Matar, The Dial, 26 May 2026
  • El-Farra said police arrested one person on suspicion of looting and six others on suspicion of prowling.
    Sean Emery, Oc Register, 25 May 2026
Verb
  • Set over the course of eight years (including the lockdown period during COVID), Herry’s film unfolds fluidly, neither hurrying scenes up unnecessarily, nor lingering too long on any incident.
    Tomris Laffly, Variety, 17 May 2026
  • No point hurrying toward a resolution that was always receding.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • The sector had been whispering earlier this year that Richemont was planning to offload Jaeger-LeCoultre.
    Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 26 May 2026
  • Francis and Pierre start whispering behind closed doors to one another at night, plotting whether or not to flee for a neutral country.
    Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 22 May 2026
Noun
  • In 2025, Lithuania took Belarus to the International Court of Justice, accusing the Lukashenko government of organizing large-scale migrant smuggling into Lithuania.
    Tatsiana Kulakevich, The Conversation, 4 June 2026
  • Even if the administration had evidence of drug smuggling, that is not the same thing as a conviction; and even if these people had a conviction, federal law does not establish capital punishment for drug trafficking.
    David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 4 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rustling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rustling. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.

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