1
as in to split (on)
to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities
how much—or how little—did the fuzz have to pay you to rat on us?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to desert
to leave (a cause or party) often in order to take up another
many party operatives ratted on the senator's candidacy once her poll numbers started to slip
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rat (on)
Verb
-
The second and third matches are due to be played on Friday and Sunday, but the luck of the Irish may desert them with those grey skies in Dublin.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025 -
In Cameroon, so many skilled officers have deserted from the military to fight for Russia in Ukraine for up to $3,000 a month, that in March, the Cameroonian government instituted a ban on uniformed men from leaving the country.—
Alia Brahimi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Schweigert emphasized the importance of talking slowly, before sending participants back to the breakrooms to reintroduce themselves with a more deliberate pace.—
Katherine Fung,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
When Zuckerberg started talking, Boz's glasses began displaying subtitles.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In July 2007, he was traded to the Atlanta Braves after rejecting an eight-year, $140 million contract extension.—
Taylor Millard,
The Washington Examiner,
19 Sep. 2025
-
Ukrainians overwhelmingly reject ceding territory.—
Oleksandra Matviichuk,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In one email reviewed by USA TODAY, a CDC employee was informed that their reasonable telework accommodation request had been withdrawn with no further explanation or justification in the middle of the night, giving them fewer than eight hours of notice before the next workday began.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Bluemercury was gracious enough to clue our editors in on what its hottest products of the season are, so that you can be better informed when filling your cart with moisturizers, shampoos, serums, hair styling tools, eyeliners, and all sorts of other beauty essentials.—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Tesla was taken to Hollywood Tow after a person reported that it had been abandoned, NBC Los Angeles previously reported.—
Andrew Blankstein,
NBC news,
19 Sep. 2025
-
The city finally towed the sedan after a citizen complained that the car had been abandoned for more than 72 hours.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Start by cutting off the sleeves of thrifted or no longer worn sweaters.—
Claire Hoppe Norgaard,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Sep. 2025
-
Jere is forced to get a job at a restaurant now that he's cut off financially.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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.
Cite this Entry
“Rat (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rat%20%28on%29. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share