rattle 1 of 2

rattle

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to clatter
to make a series of short sharp noises the children tromped through the kitchen, making the plates on the shelf rattle

Synonyms & Similar Words

2
3
as in to ramble
to talk at length without sticking to a topic or getting to a point she rattled on and on about all her European shopping trips, but I wasn't really listening

Synonyms & Similar Words

4

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb rattle contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of rattle are abash, discomfit, disconcert, and embarrass. While all these words mean "to distress by confusing or confounding," rattle implies an agitation that impairs thought and judgment.

rattled by all the television cameras

When might abash be a better fit than rattle?

Although the words abash and rattle have much in common, abash presupposes some initial self-confidence that receives a sudden check, producing shyness, shame, or a feeling of inferiority.

abashed by her swift and cutting retort

When could discomfit be used to replace rattle?

While in some cases nearly identical to rattle, discomfit implies a hampering or frustrating accompanied by confusion.

hecklers discomfited the speaker

When is disconcert a more appropriate choice than rattle?

The words disconcert and rattle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, disconcert implies an upsetting of equanimity or assurance producing uncertainty or hesitancy.

disconcerted by finding so many in attendance

When would embarrass be a good substitute for rattle?

In some situations, the words embarrass and rattle are roughly equivalent. However, embarrass implies some influence that impedes thought, speech, or action.

the question embarrassed her so much she couldn't answer

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 rattle
Noun
The lack of an internal-combustion engine means that any EV manufacturer needs to solve for additional NVH (noise, vibration, and harshness), so RBW went down the rabbit hole chasing creaks and rattles. Michael Teo Van Runkle, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025 No weird rattles or vibrations. Adam Iscoe, New Yorker, 4 Aug. 2025
Verb
Fernandez had been so rattled by the general chaos in the Administration that her layoff initially came as a relief. E. Tammy Kim, New Yorker, 16 Sep. 2025 And that was Brown’s goal for the 13 or so years that Prohibition rattled the American economy. Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rattle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rattle
Noun
  • Not with a whimper but with a siren wail that long ago converted to white noise in our collective hearing; a global tinnitus like the hum of a fridge; the quiet roar of the Greenland ice sheet slipping into the Musk Ocean.
    Reuven Perlman, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
  • There are more and more people on the other side of the glass, the sound like a sea’s roar outside.
    Sara Stridsberg September 15, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Suburban trains clatter back and forth along the southern edge of the park.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Mountains rose, the sun throwing soft light upon the carriage as the train clattered through one tunnel after another, beside ice-blue waterfalls frozen in their midst.
    The Editors, Outside, 31 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • The platform confirmed reports that Robinson had posted messages to a Discord chat two hours before being taken into custody.
    Connor Greene, Time, 17 Sep. 2025
  • In a clip shared by a fan on X, Joe Jonas could be seen chatting to a fan and holding an envelope.
    Kirsty Hatcher, PEOPLE, 16 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • After a Southern Utah offsides penalty, graduate student Matt Colombo bounced off left tackle and rambled into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown.
    Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2025
  • What on Earth was Gabriel rambling on about before, anyway?
    Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • We wouldn’t be embarrassed by it, nor would the audience.
    Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 12 Sep. 2025
  • What People Are Saying Maritime analysts have weighed in on the nature reserve declaration, with some linking it to the August 11 collision that embarrassed Beijing.
    Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Additionally, pollution accumulation and vessel noise disrupt their echolocation abilities, making hunting increasingly difficult.
    Adeola Adeosun, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Sep. 2025
  • This helps to break through the noise and build credibility.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 15 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
  • Although the park attracts millions of nature-loving visitors every year, terrestrial cell phone signal quickly wanes once one wanders off populated areas and away from main roads.
    Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • Wildlife officials euthanized a black bear this week after the animal wandered into a Dollar General in northern New Jersey and bit a woman.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 17 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rattle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rattle. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.

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