Synonyms for
Rats
Definition
Rats are small rodents with long tails and pointed snouts that are often considered pests.
Synonyms & similar words
snitch
bum
shop
fink
lowlife
shit
rat
stinker
scab
betrayer
skunk
stinkpot
stag
crumb
betray
git
denounce
informer
grass
puke
squealer
blabber
strikebreaker
rotter
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.
Compare "rats" with another word →
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