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
Both crash to the floor with a loud clatter. — Literary Hub, 11 June 2026 Saws buzz, trucks beep, and hammers clatter. — Aarne Heikkila, NBC news, 14 May 2026
Verb
Added to the mix were pottery workshops and artisan weavers, the traditional hand looms clattering away. — Lucy Gillmore, Travel + Leisure, 30 July 2026 But the moment that may have sealed Argentina’s fate came in the final minutes of second-half stoppage time when Enzo Fernández clattered into Spanish center back Pau Cubarsí at midfield, flipping him head over heels. — Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for clatter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clatter
  1. commotion
  2. rattle
  3. disturbance
  4. clack
  5. hurry
  6. fuss
  7. stir
  8. noise
Noun
  • There’s a lot of commotion swirling around you, and much of the drama may not even involve you directly.
    — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Robin’s younger sister Riverley heard the commotion and ran for help.
    — Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of commotion
Verb
  • Rebecca Noble/Reuters Hiring grew much less than expected in September as a monthslong surge of inflation weighed on shoppers and rattled bond markets, according to the federal government's monthly jobs report.
    — Max Zahn, ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026
  • OpenAI said the notifications didn’t necessarily mean systems were compromised -- the activity may have been more like rattling a locked door than breaking it down.
    — Miriam Waldvogel, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of rattle
Noun
  • Larger deployments would introduce greater distances, stronger environmental disturbances, and more difficult communication conditions.
    — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Sep. 2026
  • Airman Roger Fortson was in his home in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on May 3, 2024, when Eddie Duran responded to the apartment for a call reporting a domestic disturbance, according to the Okaloosa County Sheriff's Office.
    — Tesfaye Negussie, ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of disturbance
Verb
  • Heck, our returning champion Carole wasn’t even in this episode other than clacking away on her keyboard.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of clack
Noun
  • If your relief pitcher throws a wild pitch after your defense allowed a gift triple, your season can end in a hurry.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • But Chicago can put up runs in a hurry, as Houston found out.
    — The Athletic MLB Staff, New York Times, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of hurry
Noun
  • There’s something classic about a plate of buffalo wings in front of a TV playing football, and this gets you there without any fuss.
    — Danielle Bouchard, Martha Stewart, 26 Sep. 2026
  • For all the fuss the Edmonton Oilers have generated this offseason, the club will enter the 2026-27 season with a largely unchanged roster.
    — Janson Duench, New York Times, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of fuss
Noun
  • Kardashian appearing on the show over Meghan would cause quite a stir, seeing as the two were recently at odds.
    — Allison DeGrushe, StyleCaster, 30 Sep. 2026
  • News of Van der Stap's arrest caused a stir in the cybersecurity community.
    — Eric Mack, FOXNews.com, 29 Sep. 2026
Definition of stir
Noun
  • The song stays coiled, neither tightening its grip nor exploding into noise.
    — Sadie Sartini Garner, Pitchfork, 4 Oct. 2026
  • The company disputes that 27 odor complaints since 2024 and 67 videos of work being done outside permitted hours referenced in a city staff report represent actual violations of the city’s noise, odor and operating hour rules.
    — Blanca Begert, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 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 9 Oct. 2026.

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