clatter 1 of 2

noun

Definition of clatternext
as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity the clatter of a crowded cafeteria

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

clatter

2 of 2

verb

ˈkla-tər How to pronounce clatter (audio)
as in to rattle
to make a series of short sharp noises horses' hooves clattering on the pavement

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 clatter
Noun
Saws buzz, trucks beep, and hammers clatter. — Aarne Heikkila, NBC news, 14 May 2026 Sound has nowhere to go but back at you, amplifying every clink and clatter until your reasonable-volume conversation doesn’t stand a chance. — Allyson Reedy, Denver Post, 13 May 2026
Verb
Butch had been little more than a clattering irritation at the edges of Will’s life. — Emily Ruskovich, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026 Many people watching the game on TV were surprised, since replays seemed to suggest Freuler had been offside before being clattered by Abunada. — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 13 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for clatter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clatter
  1. commotion
  2. rattle
  3. disturbance
  4. clack
  5. fuss
  6. stir
  7. hurry
  8. noise
Noun
  • Hearing the commotion, John calls for Gates only for the assailant to kick through the door.
    — Sabrina Reed, Forbes.com, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Sleep was beginning to finally visit the insomniacs and drunkards of T—in central Manila when a commotion louder than the usual domestic squabbles erupted from the room above Mang Calixto’s bakery.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of commotion
Verb
  • Some officials have accused Kyiv of trying to rattle the Russian public with talk of a mobilization.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • In a high-stakes gambit, Ellison is weighing moving Paramount’s operations to Tennessee or Texas, which has rattled an industry already reeling from thousands of job losses.
    — Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of rattle
Noun
  • The incident happened last week at the Creekside community pool after police responded to a disturbance call.
    — Marissa Armas, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • The newest disturbance in the Atlantic moved off the coast of Africa late Tuesday.
    — Robin Webb, Sun Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of disturbance
Verb
  • Once, when his unit came under heavy fire, a soldier running for cover caught a glimpse of Salinger hunched under a table, clacking away like a frenzied newsman on deadline.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Automobile horns echoed here and there in the distance, and as the government railway train departed the station under the bridge, a string of small lights heralded the far-off clacking of its wheels.
    — Cynthia Zarin, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of clack
Noun
  • At barnyard-chic Le Garde Champêtre, Japanese chef Kazuya Miyashita weaves the organic vegetable garden’s produce into farm-to-table plates minus the fuss—simply smoked and cooked around the fire.
    — Lane Nieset, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Aug. 2026
  • These fuss-free finds from Quince, starting at $30, can be mixed and matched and worn multiple ways on vacation.
    — Destinee Scott, Travel + Leisure, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of fuss
Noun
  • The Oscars smooch caused a stir in the media, but Haven later denied that there was anything untoward at play.
    — Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The news has caused a stir on the island, where Cubans have been paying for medicines on the black market for years after the government reduced the production and import of medicines amid the economic crisis.
    — Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of stir
Noun
  • Two years into her reign, in 2024, an insider revealed that Camilla wasn’t in any hurry to step away.
    — Starr Bowenbank, InStyle, 18 July 2026
  • Prairiewolf has always seemed bent on finding new territory while being in no particular hurry to get there.
    — Reed Jackson, SPIN, 17 July 2026
Definition of hurry
Noun
  • Parking, noise, light pollution and the impact on nearby neighborhoods have also been major concerns.
    — Amelia Mugavero, CBS News, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Traffic, construction projects, mining operations, industrial work, concerts and sporting events all generate small but measurable ground movements known as anthropogenic seismic noise.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of noise

Browse Nearby Words

classy
clatter
clattered
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Cite this Entry

“Clatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clatter. Accessed 17 Aug. 2026.

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