rustle 1 of 2

verb

ˈrə-səl How to pronounce rustle (audio)
Definition of rustlenext
1
as in to graze
to feed on grass or herbs just take the steer out to pasture and let it rustle for itself

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to scurry
to proceed or move quickly rustled around enthusiastically on the morning of the big trip

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to crackle
to make small sounds usually by rubbing or moving my pet peeve is candy wrappers rustling during a movie

Synonyms & Similar Words

rustle

2 of 2

noun

as in whisper

Related Words

Dissimilar 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 rustle
Verb
The tree still stood, waiting, but no one visited, no one entered the world under her strong branches, her rustling leaves. — Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2026 Guests love the serene jungle setting with sweet birdsong in the background and a gentle wind rustling through the trees. — Jasreen Mayal Khanna, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Sep. 2026
Noun
Everything is quiet apart from the rustle of leaves and the gentle murmur of voices from the bar. — Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 19 Mar. 2026 There’s an almost imperceptible rustle in the undergrowth, and then, with a flick of a tail and a twitch of an ear, a leopard appears out of the undergrowth. — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 22 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rustle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rustle
  1. graze
  2. scurry
  3. crackle
  4. whisper
  5. hurry
  6. squeak
  7. murmur
  8. rush
Verb
  • A shot to her back and a bullet grazing her skull led to medical complications and her ultimate retirement from the Army.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026
  • When the drone flies near an object and a whisker grazes or bends against a surface, the pressure changes at the base are measured in under two milliseconds, enabling the drone to calculate contact location and depth with millimeter precision.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of graze
Verb
  • Daniels also could have scurried to his feet and spiked the ball because there were seven seconds remaining when he was tackled.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • But she, and New York Times journalists observing the raid, were soon distracted by a group of cockroaches scurrying past an oil canister.
    — Zishaan a Latif, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of scurry
Verb
  • The footage later showed smoke coming from the home as the fire intensified, with sparks visible and the sound of crackling flames audible.
    — Adam Thompson, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Go for a scenic drive, pop into an orchard for a cider tasting, and conclude your day in front of a crackling fireplace.
    — Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of crackle
Noun
  • Monday was a perfect example, when the two biggest drags on the S&P 500 were Nvidia and Micron, but were offset almost to the penny by gains in Apple and Meta, helping the index itself to finish a whisper from unchanged.
    — Michael Santoli, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026
  • Lance Leipold has heard the whispers through the years that perhaps Kansas’ football coach doesn’t place enough emphasis on the yearly Sunflower Showdown against Kansas State.
    — Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of whisper
Verb
  • Tight end John Bates lined up out wide to the far side, motioning to hurry up.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Some hurried to try to unmask the anonymous woman behind the accusations.
    — Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of hurry
Verb
  • His three goals against the Canucks proved to be the difference, too, as the Cats needed every bit of Brady's offensive prowess to squeak out a 3-2 victory in overtime.
    — Austin Perry OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026
  • It’s been 18 years since anyone’s heard the wheels of a shopping cart squeaking across the cement floor of Dillons in Shawnee.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of squeak
Noun
  • After the first 10 handshakes, the chatter softens to a murmur.
    — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 11 Oct. 2026
  • The outcry over data centers — warehouses that contain the hardware for powering artificial intelligence and other technology — was only a faint murmur when McCallister first saw the survey markers.
    — Justin Papp, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of murmur
Verb
  • The men rushed on to the plain, setting more trees ablaze and hurling rocks.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
  • The unidentified man in his 30s was rushed to the hospital in critical condition but was pronounced dead later in the afternoon, according to the police.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of rush

Browse Nearby Words

rusting
rustle
rustled
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Cite this Entry

“Rustle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rustle. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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