Synonyms for
Rats
Definition
Rats are small rodents with long tails and pointed snouts that are often considered pests.
Synonyms & similar words
bum
dirtydog
scab
lowlife
scumbag
denounce
tellon
snitch
shit
betray
git
stinker
squealer
informer
stinkpot
rat
rotter
puke
crumb
shop
strikebreaker
blabber
fink
giveaway
blackleg
rodent
mouse
vermin
pest
critter
varmint
weasel
squirrel
chipmunk
marmot
beaver
otter
badger
ferret
mongoose
possum
skunk
racoon
hare
bunny
Synonyms by register
Antonyms
Common collocations
- pack of rats
- rats in the walls
- rats leaving a sinking ship
- like a rat
- a rat's nest
- rat poison
- rat race
Word family
Usage note
The word 'rats' is often used informally as an exclamation of disgust or disappointment. As a noun, it refers to the rodent, but can also be used metaphorically to describe a treacherous or contemptible person.
Example sentences
- I saw a family of rats in the alley behind the restaurant.
- The cat chased the rats across the yard.
- The farmer put out traps to catch the rats in the barn.
- The scientist studied the behavior of rats in a maze.
- The movie Ratatouille is about a rat who loves to cook.
Quotes
I'm not a rat, I'm a cat in disguise. - Kermit the Frog
“The rat is a creature of the night and dark places, a furtive scavenger feeding on rubbish and dead things, with a talent for detecting anything edible from miles away.” - Karen Maitland
“When rats infest the house, they steal the food and bite the babies. They spread disease and multiply rapidly. They are the enemy.” - George R.R. Martin