RAVES Synonyms: 87 Similar and Opposite Words

raves 1 of 2

noun

plural of rave

as in applause

enthusiastic and usually public expression of approval the books have received even more raves from parents than from the kids they were written for

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

raves

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of rave

as in gushes

to make an exaggerated display of affection or enthusiasm she raved about the Mother's Day breakfast of cold coffee and burnt toast that her young children had proudly set before her

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in huffs

to talk loudly and wildly a man stood outside city hall raving like a lunatic about his tax bill

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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 raves

Noun

Tourists pop in for a quick look around, while music fans sometimes come for raves and concerts. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 5 Oct. 2026 The shows may be the official business of the week, but once the lights go down, the calendar fills up with store cocktails, intimate dinners, afterparties, brand activations and blockbuster raves — most of the time, all on the same night. — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 22 Sep. 2026 How is matcha showing up at daytime raves, and how to make iced matcha for the moment? — Ashley Lynch, Charlotte Observer, 21 Sep. 2026 By keeping the music, the crowd and the sense of occasion while stripping out the alcohol, sauna raves and plunge parties give a generation already rethinking nightlife a format that feels familiar without feeling like a compromise. — Ashley Lynch, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026 Scott’s performance has received across-the-board raves, but even more so than The Debut, the film itself has both fans and detractors. — Joe Reid, Vulture, 18 Sep. 2026 The latter has earned raves for her turn as a math genius stuck under the thumb of an abusive boyfriend (and an academic system designed to ignore and exploit her). — Matt Donnelly, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026 Feel free to send me your rants and raves as well as your questions. — Elazar Sontag, Washington Post, 9 Sep. 2026 Some host sober sauna raves with DJs and live music, borrowing from nightlife without requiring drinks. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 8 Sep. 2026

Verb

The couple raves about the care their girls have received at both hospitals. — Juli McDonald, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026 Jocelyn Bioh is entering the upper echelon of contemporary playwrights, after her current Broadway play, School Girls; or, the African Mean Girls Play, opened on September 28 to raves. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 1 Oct. 2026 The Global Wellness Institute’s 2026 outlook explicitly bundles sober morning raves with multi-day wellness festivals. — Ashley Lynch, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2026 See also the frequency that Carter raves about problematic collaborators — Kanye! — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 17 Sep. 2026 Her research started with the usual suspects of nightlife lore — 1920s Paris, 1970s disco and 1990s raves. — Lina Lecaro, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 My mom raves about Vuori loungewear, and there’s currently a pair of the brand’s airy, feather-soft wide-leg pants on sale for 25 percent off. — Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2026 Aemond raves about his horrible older brother who spent their youth tormenting him. — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 26 July 2026 One of those people is Chiappetta, who raves about the example Mally is setting for Naperville North. — Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for raves

Noun

The viral post, which showed him shirtless next to his bike, was met with applause and celebrity feedback.

— Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Around them, people strolling through Herald Square stopped to watch — all while a seated crowd burst into dance and applause.

— Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of applause

Verb

In Lourdes, where believers say a famous Catholic shrine gushes with healing waters, streets were crowded with pilgrims waving flags and holding babies aloft as the pope passed in his popemobile.

— Chris Livesay, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
Josh Harris, the private equity financier and owner of the Washington Commanders, gushes about the rise of flag football.

— Luke Cyphers, Sportico.com, 11 Sep. 2026

Definition of gushes

Noun

Pitt State and Boschee Ball Former KU guard Jeff Boschee, the fifth-year head coach at Pitt State, received a loud ovation during player and coach introductions.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 17 Oct. 2026
The film’s premiere received a 25-minute standing ovation at Venice International Film Festival.

— Leila Fadel, NPR, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of ovation

Verb

And his ultimate war is with Bob, a tech CEO who rants about his haters and has gotten rich off rebranded snake oil and whose obvious corruption has been obscured by his self-mythologizing.

— Alison Willmore, Vulture, 29 Aug. 2025
One grumbles when the driver rants about development’s ravages.

— Mark Ellwood, Robb Report, 10 Aug. 2025

Definition of rants

Noun

The two governors, who mended fences after clashing over last year’s Proposition 50 redistricting campaign, lavished praise on each other for their climate bona fides.

— Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Schwarzenegger and Newsom piled praise upon each other during the Wednesday afternoon discussion, hugging at the end.

— Seema Mehta, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of praise

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ravens

raves

ravine

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Style

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

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Synonyms of raves

noun

verb

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