1
as in wandering
passing from one topic to another
I listened patiently to Mrs. Parsifal's rambling reminiscences, though I had no idea who "Dorothy" and "the stepson" were
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in talkative
using or containing more words than necessary to express an idea
the new minister gives rambling sermons that, if they have a point, are lost on the congregation, which invariably falls asleep
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in prolixity
Related Words
1
as in rattling
to talk at length without sticking to a topic or getting to a point
the teenagers sat around the pizza parlor, rambling on about dating, homework, movies, and the local football team
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in roaming
to move about from place to place aimlessly
by tirelessly rambling around San Francisco for a week we probably saw more of it than many residents ever have
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in strolling
to travel by foot for exercise or pleasure
we're planning to ramble all over the highland moors when we're in Dartmoor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of rambling
Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
The rambling, low-slung building, containing 200 rooms, including 36 suites, is easy to get lost in.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Stroll the Riverwalk to the skylit Old Wilmington City Market and the rambling Cotton Exchange, a shopping and dining complex spread over several historic buildings.
—Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 22 Apr. 2026
Trump lashed out at them and Tucker in a long, rambling social media post earlier this month.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
This dainty mix makes for a rambling container that's easy to enjoy.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2026
The North Carolina folk-rock band’s quiet and rambling third album exists in a cloud of dreamy contemplation.
—Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 1 Apr. 2026
Trump’s speech was at times entertaining, rambling, repetitive, and combative.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Shinjuku Gyoen is a rambling blend of European and Japanese formal gardens that becomes a focal point of the cherry blossom season in late March.
—Stephen Kelly, TheWeek, 26 Mar. 2026
Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
This rambling 1,200-acre Southern California ranch has both and much more, plus a supremely private and scenic locale on the outskirts of the historic community of San Juan Capistrano.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 10 Mar. 2026
In addition to the lake, there are 26 miles of trails for rambling at Hot Springs National Park as well as a number of hiking paths leading into and out of downtown.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026
That’s when Amendola’s face, combined with some unhinged rambling, got the message across that something big just happened.
—Jeff Howe, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
What on Earth was Gabriel rambling on about before, anyway?
—Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
Roger Naylor shares 10 favorite Arizona destinations from his 50 years of rambling here.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2025
As Minneapolis reels from the shooting, officials are combing through Westman’s rambling writings – which the shooter shared in YouTube videos timed to go online around the same time as the attack – to search for a motive.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Trump has long bragged about his cognitive ability, repeatedly offering to take a cognitive exam alongside Biden during the 2024 campaign, and has claimed his rambling is a purposeful speaking style.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Mardi is a rambling story, and reviewers were not kind.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
The rambling, low-slung building, containing 200 rooms, including 36 suites, is easy to get lost in.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Apr. 2026
Stroll the Riverwalk to the skylit Old Wilmington City Market and the rambling Cotton Exchange, a shopping and dining complex spread over several historic buildings.
—Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 22 Apr. 2026
Trump lashed out at them and Tucker in a long, rambling social media post earlier this month.
—Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
This dainty mix makes for a rambling container that's easy to enjoy.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 17 Apr. 2026
The North Carolina folk-rock band’s quiet and rambling third album exists in a cloud of dreamy contemplation.
—Jayson Greene, Pitchfork, 1 Apr. 2026
Trump’s speech was at times entertaining, rambling, repetitive, and combative.
—Matthew Martin, semafor.com, 30 Mar. 2026
Shinjuku Gyoen is a rambling blend of European and Japanese formal gardens that becomes a focal point of the cherry blossom season in late March.
—Stephen Kelly, TheWeek, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
Throughout the latter two videos, Ivey spoke to the camera while driving his car and rambling through various evangelical talking points.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 30 Mar. 2026
This rambling 1,200-acre Southern California ranch has both and much more, plus a supremely private and scenic locale on the outskirts of the historic community of San Juan Capistrano.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 10 Mar. 2026
In addition to the lake, there are 26 miles of trails for rambling at Hot Springs National Park as well as a number of hiking paths leading into and out of downtown.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 16 Feb. 2026
That’s when Amendola’s face, combined with some unhinged rambling, got the message across that something big just happened.
—Jeff Howe, New York Times, 7 Feb. 2026
What on Earth was Gabriel rambling on about before, anyway?
—Jessica Wang, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Sep. 2025
Roger Naylor shares 10 favorite Arizona destinations from his 50 years of rambling here.
—Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2025
As Minneapolis reels from the shooting, officials are combing through Westman’s rambling writings – which the shooter shared in YouTube videos timed to go online around the same time as the attack – to search for a motive.
—Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Trump has long bragged about his cognitive ability, repeatedly offering to take a cognitive exam alongside Biden during the 2024 campaign, and has claimed his rambling is a purposeful speaking style.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rambling
Adjective
-
Like Fox Lake mom Priscilla Marshall, 34, whose 11-year-old son was found wandering village streets last month, bloody and beaten, authorities said.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The adventurous rapper and producer take a more refined approach on a collaborative album full of wandering thoughts and odd, understated beats.—
Stephen Kearse,
Pitchfork,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Donovan is talkative, bubbly and outgoing, while Juan is more of a listener.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
26 Apr. 2026
-
The fourth graders were talkative, but focused.—
Joseph States,
Chicago Tribune,
20 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Eichenberger recently converted one of the ponds into a small babbling brook to maintain a steady flow of water.—
Lennie Omalza,
Louisville Courier Journal,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The internet has spoken—the babbling of Minions will be heard at the 2026 Winter Olympics.—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
That includes the stories behind the backboard-rattling dunks and blocks on the basketball court.—
Alex Zietlow,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Though brief, Yoon’s martial law decree threw the country into a severe political crisis, paralyzing politics and high-level diplomacy and rattling financial markets.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Celebrate by roaming the stacks after dark at this festival.—
Deputy Managing Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Fish and wildlife officials advise people to remove bird feeders until the turkeys leave the area and install sprinklers if the wild fowl keep roaming into yards.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Every once in a while, the TV would display the now ubiquitous images of Suspect One and Suspect Two, who had been caught by surveillance cameras, wearing backpacks and strolling near the finish line moments before the explosions.—
Saïd Sayrafiezadeh,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
-
And with its options for kayaking, standup paddleboarding, sailing, and waterskiing—plus a boardwalk for strolling and sandy beaches for relaxing—Mission Bay Park is a great spot for active families.—
Kara Williams,
USA Today,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Tontey’s Karamoy becomes literally larger than life, with three breasts and exaggerated muscles, a physical manifestation of her will toward self-determination.—
Harrison Jacobs,
ARTnews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The exaggerated use of black in this trendy backyard by Allweather Landscape gives the space a super modern and moody look.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The film almost completely drops any and all scientific babble from the book in favor of character development, action sequences, and emotional gut punches.—
Matthew Razak,
Space.com,
23 Mar. 2026
-
Read a book and sip tea in front of the central fireplace, swim between the indoor and outdoor sections of the glimmering pool, and soak your aching quads in the hot tubs under the evergreens and aspens while listening to the peaceful babble of Gore Creek.—
Sarah Kuta,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rambling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rambling. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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