as in chatting
to engage in casual or rambling conversation
could sit for hours nattering about nothing
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Recent Examples of nattering
But all the nattering nabobs of negativism who’d normally have been concentrating on Maura’s catastrophic first term had to devote at least a little attention to recounting one of the Wu Klux Klan’s more embarrassing moments of 2025.
—
Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
Despite some advance nattering about how the absence of a traditional SEC or Big Ten powerhouse in the College Football Playoff National Championship would sink ESPN’s ratings, Monday night’s dustup between Miami and Indiana put up the biggest TV numbers in 11 years.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 21 Jan. 2026
Despite some advance nattering about how the absence of a traditional SEC or Big Ten powerhouse in the College Football Playoff National Championship would sink ESPN’s ratings, Monday night’s dustup between Miami and Indiana put up the biggest TV numbers in 11 years.
—Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nattering
Verb
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Then, almost two years into the investigation, Langston stopped by the police station and was chatting with a different administrator, who asked Langston whether the initial search had also been conducted in an older database that not everybody on staff knew about.—
Yudhijit Bhattacharjee,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
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When chatting at the Future 50 last summer, Green spoke for more than 12 minutes about his top schools and did not mention Georgia until the program was brought up.—
Jeff Sentell,
AJC.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
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The straight-talking Benatia, who became sporting director in January 2025 after previously working for the club in an advisory role, fit a similar mould.—
Tom Williams,
New York Times,
17 May 2026
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Riley was equally at ease when talking with the dentist, listening patiently as the man described his fancy new house in a gentrified area.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
Verb
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On her last day in Reggio Emilia, Middleton visited with schoolchildren in the woods—even sitting in the grass and sharing stories of her own kids while conversing with the students.—
Stefania Saltalamacchia,
Vanity Fair,
15 May 2026
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On April 30, the TikTok star, 25, and the Houston Texans wide receiver, 30, were spotted conversing at the Sports Illustrated x Authentic Brands Group party at The Surf Club Restaurant in Miami.—
Tabitha Parent,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
Verb
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But a chattering bird builds no nest!—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
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Tabakis lightly strums and plucks over a glowing drone and chattering birds, offering an ecumenical introduction, a smiling welcome.—
Grayson Haver Currin,
Pitchfork,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nattering.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nattering. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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