as in noises
loud, confused, and usually inharmonious sound
I'd go nuts if I had to endure the rattle of that bottling plant every day
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in chats
to engage in casual or rambling conversation
busily rattling away about our vacation plans, we didn't listen to the announcements and missed our flight
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in rambles
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
as in embarrasses
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
don't let a little mistake rattle you while you're playing during the piano recital
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of rattles
Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 12 May 2026
With dresses and intimate wear for women; jewelry; personal care products; men’s wallets; baby swaddles, stuffies, rattles and teething toys; dog leashes, collars and toys; greeting cards and a wide range of home decor, the store is drawing people in.
—Sarah Kyrcz, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026
The snakes can, however, lose their rattles or simply decide not to use them.
—Don Sweeney
april 21, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Cunningham’s Fisher-Price pianos and decrepit drums are unmistakable, as is Ciani’s Buchla, which whooshes and rattles like a steam engine barreling down the tracks.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
Most people initially become aware of the reptiles by hearing their rattles, which the snakes use to try to scare off aggressors or to distract prey.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
If your current carry-on rattles, tips, or barely survives a weekend away, consider this your sign.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2026
Silver engraving, masks, totem poles, rattles, prints.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
Cutlery, rattles and cups are among the most popular choices as keepsake gifts for newborns.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
His comments come as consumer sentiment in the US continued to decline this month, hitting a record low as the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz rattles global energy markets.
—Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 8 May 2026
The Iran war is fundamentally reshaping the oil industry, as geopolitical volatility rattles traders and derails expectations of a Middle East drilling boom.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Fans will have to tune in next week to find out Andrea's fate — and see if her abduction rattles Kayce.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
The film rattles enough skeletons, both on screen and in the audience, to ensure that Cronin’s name will be remembered by genre heads with or without the titular reminder.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
The threat rattles Reef and prompts him to apologize to all the major figures from his past whom he's offended or hurt over the years.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Apr. 2026
Emma’s shocking admission rattles the entire wedding party, particularly Haim’s Rachel, whose cousin was left paralyzed by an act of gun violence.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 3 Apr. 2026
In Walker Percy’s novel The Moviegoer, the hero, Binx Bolling, tells us that there is an invisible Geiger counter in his head that rattles loudly whenever a Jew passes by.
—Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
Noun
The seeds are loose and clatter around inside the pods, giving baptisia the name rattleweed, as children once used the seedpods as rattles.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 12 May 2026
With dresses and intimate wear for women; jewelry; personal care products; men’s wallets; baby swaddles, stuffies, rattles and teething toys; dog leashes, collars and toys; greeting cards and a wide range of home decor, the store is drawing people in.
—Sarah Kyrcz, Hartford Courant, 27 Apr. 2026
The snakes can, however, lose their rattles or simply decide not to use them.
—Don Sweeney
april 21, Sacbee.com, 21 Apr. 2026
Cunningham’s Fisher-Price pianos and decrepit drums are unmistakable, as is Ciani’s Buchla, which whooshes and rattles like a steam engine barreling down the tracks.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
Most people initially become aware of the reptiles by hearing their rattles, which the snakes use to try to scare off aggressors or to distract prey.
—Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
If your current carry-on rattles, tips, or barely survives a weekend away, consider this your sign.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2026
Silver engraving, masks, totem poles, rattles, prints.
—Kerry Breen, CBS News, 16 Dec. 2025
Cutlery, rattles and cups are among the most popular choices as keepsake gifts for newborns.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
Welcome to a Monday Nightcaps — the one where Paige Spiranac gears up for the PGA Championship with her mom and rattles America's cage.
—Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 May 2026
His comments come as consumer sentiment in the US continued to decline this month, hitting a record low as the ongoing closure of the Strait of Hormuz rattles global energy markets.
—Mustafa Qadri, CNN Money, 8 May 2026
The Iran war is fundamentally reshaping the oil industry, as geopolitical volatility rattles traders and derails expectations of a Middle East drilling boom.
—J.d. Capelouto, semafor.com, 20 Apr. 2026
Fans will have to tune in next week to find out Andrea's fate — and see if her abduction rattles Kayce.
—Julia Moore, PEOPLE, 20 Apr. 2026
The film rattles enough skeletons, both on screen and in the audience, to ensure that Cronin’s name will be remembered by genre heads with or without the titular reminder.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 16 Apr. 2026
The threat rattles Reef and prompts him to apologize to all the major figures from his past whom he's offended or hurt over the years.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 8 Apr. 2026
Emma’s shocking admission rattles the entire wedding party, particularly Haim’s Rachel, whose cousin was left paralyzed by an act of gun violence.
—Chris Murphy, Vanity Fair, 3 Apr. 2026
In Walker Percy’s novel The Moviegoer, the hero, Binx Bolling, tells us that there is an invisible Geiger counter in his head that rattles loudly whenever a Jew passes by.
—Adam Kirsch, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rattles
Noun
-
Weighing just 18 pounds (8 kilograms), the chair is light enough to pick up one handed but bulky enough to stay grounded, while a fiber layer atop the cushion similarly counters the flaws of its predecessor by preventing unwanted moisture or noises.—
Jack Bantock,
CNN Money,
14 May 2026
-
Shuffling noises were heard, and then a pointy white gown popped into the lobby.—
Jane Bua,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
Then, a mannequin clatters to the floor from the ceiling and breaks apart.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
20 Nov. 2025
-
Deacon clatters off in his truck, leaving me to contemplate my new home.—
Rowan Jacobsen,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Rooster star Steve Carell chats about his latest show at HBO's Rooster Emmy FYC Event on April 26 in Los Angeles.—
Toria Sheffield,
PEOPLE,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Honey Cooper chats with Professor Nader Gergis before attending his class on Wednesday.—
Cierra Morgan,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Kachina rambles for 5 miles but the most vibrant color is found on the first half of the hike.—
Roger Naylor,
AZCentral.com,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The residence rambles over more than 14,500 square feet with 13 bedrooms and nine and a half baths.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Graft inquiry embarrasses Zelensky Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office said in a Telegram announcement that the investigation into Yermak is ongoing.—
Hanna Arhirova,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
-
Now the technology embarrasses an umpire even more than a player could, and what’s the recourse?—
Jim Alexander,
Oc Register,
4 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Both of them suggest the guitarist Loren Connors leading the early roars of Earth, his intuitive way of navigating the instrument’s neck bolstered by a formidable wall of hum at his back.—
Grayson Haver Currin,
Pitchfork,
14 May 2026
-
All of that felt like a distant memory on Monday night, when Becerra, now the leading Democrat ahead of the June 2 primary, was met with roars of approval from a hometown crowd of at least 700 people at Sacramento State.—
Ben Paviour,
Sacbee.com,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Klaus talks to his sister in California on an elegant brass and Bakelite 1940s telephone (the props are divine throughout), complete with operator interruptions.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
14 May 2026
-
Our correspondent talks to him.—
Greg Dixon,
NPR,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
His daughter yelps delightedly as a calf wanders close to the fence.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
16 May 2026
-
In the ensuing panic, Jesus (Bilal Hasna) wanders off down to Earth and is befriended by a former street hustler named Harry the Fish (Mark Addy).—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rattles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rattles. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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