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
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
Think things like rattles, balls, activity gyms, and more.
—Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 2 Oct. 2025
Baby rattlesnakes don’t have rattles, and adult snakes’ rattles occasionally break off, according to the National Park Service.
—Sacbee.com, 28 Aug. 2025
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
Okla Jones, Essence, 14 Dec. 2025
Advertisement The tragedy that befalls Robert rattles his faith in everything.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 21 Nov. 2025
First, her ticking watch rattles Cammie during a call from a mother whose child is trapped in the washing machine.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Nov. 2025
The statement rattles Abbott enough to let his guard down, which is how Nile gets to be on top of him, bludgeoning his head with the back of Abbott’s own gun after strangling him.
—Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
Each new round of tariffs rattles markets and makes investors more nervous about what the White House might do next.
—Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 17 Oct. 2025
The first is an earthquake that rattles the house into disarray.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2025
Senate Republicans are preparing a new package to support Ukraine’s defense and polling that shows support for this move gives lawmakers political cover, as a decision over whether to provide Kyiv with Tomahawk missiles rattles Kremlin propagandists.
—Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 Oct. 2025
So, there are different levels of types of activity, but some of the more common signs include, for example, a door that rattles and there's not a breeze or something causing it.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
Silver engraving, masks, totem poles, rattles, prints.
—Verb
His return rattles a household that has learned how to function without him, especially his wife Astoria, played with quiet resolve by Simone Missick.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for rattles
Noun
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Soft-close cabinetry is another staple of 2026 kitchen design, according to the report, a trait that not only aids durability but also prevents jarring noises.—
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Turns out, those crystal bowls and milk glass dishes—both of which made ample clinking noises—were perfect for alerting grandma that little ones were snagging candy before dinner.—
Verb
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Then, a mannequin clatters to the floor from the ceiling and breaks apart.—
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Deacon clatters off in his truck, leaving me to contemplate my new home.—
Verb
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Host Mary Louise Kelly chats with national security correspondent Greg Myre and books and culture reporter Andrew Limbong about some of their favorite books and authors in the world of espionage fiction.—
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Jason Bateman chats with David Letterman at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles for a new episode of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction.—
Verb
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Kachina rambles for 5 miles but the most vibrant color is found on the first half of the hike.—
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The residence rambles over more than 14,500 square feet with 13 bedrooms and nine and a half baths.—
Verb
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Maia and her boyfriend Dylan (Josh Hustcherson) are on the outs after Maia completely embarrasses herself at Dylan’s game night with his co-workers.—
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There, the father of the bride gets too drunk and embarrasses himself.—
Noun
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The people want to see Varang’s fierce roars!—
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White then nailed a step back 3, drawing more roars, and Jones hit a reverse layup.—
Verb
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Tommy is ready to go to war, but Mireya talks her way free before Tommy arrives.—
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Mark walks differently than you, talks different than you, fights differently than you.—
Verb
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Where is that strange, clueless child who wanders from cause to cause, Greta Thunberg?—
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Matt, the dad, wanders off to the kitchen.—
Cite this Entry
“Rattles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rattles. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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