rustles 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of rustle
1
as in grazes
to feed on grass or herbs just take the steer out to pasture and let it rustle for itself

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

rustles

2 of 2

noun

plural of rustle
as in whispers

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 rustles
Verb
Birds chirp, and the breeze rustles the leaves. — Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 17 Jan. 2026 Even Super Dog makes an appearance — cape, mask and all — ready to leap into action the moment a snack bag rustles. — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025 Meanwhile, hikers trace goat paths to the secluded Tatevi Anapat Hermitage, where wind rustles through fig trees and the only sound is the echo of footfalls on ancient stone. — Lewis Nunn, Forbes.com, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rustles
  1. grazes
  2. scurries
  3. crackles
  4. whispers
  5. rushes
  6. squeaks
  7. murmurs
  8. hurries
Verb
  • Instead of a long, narrow path of totality across the globe, the cone of the moon's dark shadow just grazes Earth's edge.
    — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The mission’s lunar target is Shackleton Crater, a 21-kilometer-wide (13-mile-wide) pit with a rim that grazes the moon’s south pole.
    — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of grazes
Verb
  • Inside Botánica Santo Tomas in Wilton Manors, store owner Héctor Giovanni Pizarro Santana sweeps the floor as his tiny Chihuahua, Bella, scurries behind him.
    — Delia Sauer, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile, in King’s Landing, Alicent scurries the great halls, desperate to shore up support for her plan to hand Rhaenyra the Red Keep.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 29 June 2026
Definition of scurries
Verb
  • As the Taser crackles, the recording device drops, briefly capturing part of a vehicle before flames erupt near the camera.
    — Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 5 Aug. 2026
  • The baby monitor, propped up on the salad bowl, crackles in the background.
    — Imogen Crimp, Vogue, 20 July 2026
Definition of crackles
Noun
  • The extent of his former client list was unearthed through whispers and gossip.
    — Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Because after decades of rumors, whispers, teasing and the sort of speculation normally reserved for Elvis sightings and alien landings, a Days of Thunder sequel is officially on the fast track to theaters.
    — Greg Engle, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of whispers
Verb
  • Eddie George rushes for 216 yards, the second best opening-day NFL performance, in helping Tennessee past Oakland 24-21 in overtime.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2026
  • In the commercial, Good Good co-founder Garrett Clark rushes over to his golf bag and pushes over golfer Alexis Miestowski to keep her from grabbing the Quantum Driver.
    — Andrew Greif, NBC news, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of rushes
Verb
  • Its movements and squeaks change in response to the person interacting with it, giving caregivers another way to reduce distress and encourage engagement.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Crysencio Summerville squeaks it just inside the left post in the 64th minute to retake the lead for The Netherlands, 2-1.
    — Jim Barnes, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 June 2026
Definition of squeaks
Noun
  • In these murmurs, Ullom wonders how much modern technology has led us astray.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 19 Aug. 2026
  • For weeks, there have been murmurs in DC about a coming White House move to address the inevitability of powerful, open-source Chinese AI models being used by people and businesses across the globe.
    — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 15 July 2026
Definition of murmurs
Verb
  • If someone hurries you, slow the exchange and name what feels good in your body, like sitting down before deciding on plans.
    — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 11 June 2026
  • Nix almost always hurries his throws when a blitz comes Harvey’s way, regardless of whether the rookie RB picks it up capably or not.
    — Luca Evans, Denver Post, 23 Dec. 2025
Definition of hurries

Browse Nearby Words

rustlers
rustles
rustling
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rustles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rustles. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
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

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of apiary

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All