as in commotion
a state of noisy, confused activity
the clatter of a crowded cafeteria
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Recent Examples of clatter
Eric Sullivan, Scientific American, 21 Feb. 2026
Even the ordinary clatter of life seems to fall into rhythm with something sacred.
—Zeyneb Sayilgan, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2026
Shoshi Parks, Popular Science, 19 Mar. 2026
His father was a wheeler-dealer who lived by quick wits and the sweat of his brow, dabbling in bootlegged sake, swine farming, loan sharking, and later pachinko parlors—Japan’s ubiquitous low-stakes gambling game of clattering steel ball bearings.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clatter
Noun
German biathlete Justus Strelow watched his bronze clatter to the floor mid-victory-dance on live television.
—Eric Sullivan, Scientific American, 21 Feb. 2026
Even the ordinary clatter of life seems to fall into rhythm with something sacred.
—Zeyneb Sayilgan, Washington Post, 17 Feb. 2026
Verb
In Manhattan, Henry hoofed through the city’s streets and into its clattering manufacturers’ workshops day after day, trying to drum up interest in her interchangeable umbrella.
—Shoshi Parks, Popular Science, 19 Mar. 2026
His father was a wheeler-dealer who lived by quick wits and the sweat of his brow, dabbling in bootlegged sake, swine farming, loan sharking, and later pachinko parlors—Japan’s ubiquitous low-stakes gambling game of clattering steel ball bearings.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for clatter
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clatter
Noun
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With all of the commotion made about his on-base streak being snapped, his performance on the mound was almost an afterthought.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
23 Apr. 2026
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From its location away from the courtroom, the jury heard a commotion.—
Emerson Clarridge,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The majority, rather than being rattled by a president who had attempted a coup, labored to protect the country from the hypothetical danger of a presidency rendered impotent by specious criminal prosecutions.—
Gregg Nunziata,
The Atlantic,
27 Apr. 2026
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Conflict in the Middle East is rattling energy markets, pushing up the cost of natural gas—the backbone of nitrogen fertilizer production—and exposing once again just how vulnerable farmers and families are to shocks beyond their control.—
Carlos Alvarado Quesada,
Fortune,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
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But since that ridge shifted from Northern California in early April, the new pattern has invited multiple low-pressure disturbances into the region.—
Rick Hurd,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2026
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About 4% of those students — or roughly 300,000 students — are labeled with emotional disturbance.—
Laurie Stern,
NPR,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The sounds of shoulder pads clacking and helmets clanging filled the air Saturday morning at Spaulding Field for the UCLA football team’s fifth spring practice of the year.—
Gabriel Duarte,
Daily News,
11 Apr. 2026
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Sticks clacked in quick succession as passes moved up the ice.—
Panashe Matemba-Mutasa,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Its red, orange and yellow daisy-like blooms keep coming through the hottest months with almost no fuss — a strong choice for gardeners who would rather enjoy their yard than baby it.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 Apr. 2026
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The plants that earn their place in a hot-weather bed are the ones that keep blooming when the thermometer climbs, draw butterflies and hummingbirds without fuss and reward you with the kind of color that makes a morning cup of coffee on the porch feel like a small vacation.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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White-Jacket did cause a stir with its discussion of the arbitrary and cruel use of flogging in the US Navy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
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Remove the foil and give the orzo another good stir, then bake uncovered for 15 to 20 minutes more, until the orzo is tender and creamy.—
Kelly McCarthy,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
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The Chiefs finished in the bottom quarter of the NFL in sacks and quarterback hurries in 2025, per Pro Football Reference.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
29 Apr. 2026
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No one seems in a hurry to be anywhere else.—
Andrea Domanick,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
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October 23 – November 21 Your focus cuts through noise and moves things forward.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2026
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Scorpio October 23 – November 21 Your focus cuts through noise and moves things forward.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Clatter.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clatter. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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