rattling 1 of 3

adjective

ˈrat-liŋ How to pronounce rattling (audio)
Definition of rattlingnext
as in rapid
moving, proceeding, or acting with great speed we drove off at a rattling pace

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rattling

2 of 3

adverb

as in extremely
to a great degree a rattling good storyteller

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rattling

3 of 3

verb

present participle of rattle
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

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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

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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

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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

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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
Adjective
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
Verb
Wilmington, California — The rattling whir of a diesel generator fills a corner of the truck yard. — Natasha Chen, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2026 Diesel fuel prices have spiked in the aftermath of the Iran war, rattling voters and putting pressure on Republicans. — Nicholas Ingram, Arkansas Online, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rattling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rattling
  1. rapid
  2. extremely
  3. clattering
  4. chatting
  5. rambling
  6. embarrassing
  7. brisk
  8. very
Adjective
  • This is the experience of some students in the state and it is being further complicated by the rapid adoption of artificial intelligence, rising college costs and limited exposure to jobs before graduation.
    — P.R. Lockhart, Hartford Courant, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Their operational training regularly includes rapid rope insertions from heights of 100 feet or more.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of rapid
Adverb
  • Some wondered whether Schrödinger’s equation might be an approximation that works extremely well at the microscopic scale but breaks down at the macroscopic scale, which would mean the measurement postulate of the Copenhagen interpretation is right.
    — Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
  • In the meantime, no one should refrain from using sunscreen, which is extremely well-proven to cause cancer.
    — Tracy Middleton, Allure, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of extremely
Verb
  • The ballad finds Fontaines’ Grian Chatten and Rosalía trading lines over a moody acoustic strum that repeatedly swells with strings and clattering drums.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Shawn could hear his mother still clattering about in the kitchen, could smell the soapy smell of the man’s body.
    — Rachel Heng, New Yorker, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of clattering
Verb
  • Times columnists Gustavo Arellano, Steve Lopez and Lorraine Ali are chatting about Tuesday night’s Los Angeles mayoral debate between Mayor Karen Bass and Councilmember Nithya Raman.
    — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • The challenge will include multiple phases, including a concept design, concept refinement after chatting with reviewers, and then a final selection.
    — Elizabeth Howell, Space.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of chatting
Verb
  • The tight hiding places of Kaitlyn Dever’s rambling house seem almost roomy compared with being stuck in the slimy gut of a sperm whale.
    — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Another user experienced the issue on their Echo Show smart display but was able to stop the assistant from rambling by asking a random question.
    — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of rambling
Verb
  • My New York neighbors barely said hello; in Singapore, a stranger would probably politely look away rather than risk embarrassing you.
    — Amanda Lee Koe, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • After those results went public, embarrassing Muñiz and a few other judges, the Florida Bar stopped conducting surveys and publishing the results … leaving Florida voters with even fewer resources.
    — Scott Maxwell, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of embarrassing
Adjective
  • Most dogs benefit from two brisk daily walks of 20-30 minutes.
    — Will Boyd, Baltimore Sun, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Los Javis, working with editor Alberto Gutiérrez, keep things moving, and the film’s two-and-a-half-hour running time moves at a surprisingly brisk pace.
    — Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of brisk
Adverb
  • And Winnie-the-Pooh continues to sit, in a thoughtful sort of way, which is what very old bears in very nice glass cases mostly do.
    — STEVE HENDRIX THE WASHINGTON POST, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
  • The Dolphins’ attendance has dropped significantly so far this season, albeit in a very limited sample size.
    — Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of very

Browse Nearby Words

rattletrap
rattling
rattrap
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Cite this Entry

“Rattling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rattling. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

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