Illustration of rattlesnake
rattlesnake
noun
rat·tle·snake
ˈra-tᵊl-ˌsnāk 
: any of several American pit vipers (genera Crotalus and Sistrurus) that have horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp rattling sound when shaken
Examples of rattlesnake in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
More important, watch out for the rattlesnakes.
—
Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
To keep the cattle and other animals away, the owls will huddle together, clacking their beaks to mimic rattlesnakes, which cattle instinctively know to avoid.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
When threatened, gopher snakes often flatten their heads and hiss loudly, mimicking rattlesnakes to deter predators.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
These are one of four venomous snakes found in Texas alongside rattlesnakes, cottonmouths (also known as water moccasins) and coral snakes.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rattlesnake
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Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
To keep the cattle and other animals away, the owls will huddle together, clacking their beaks to mimic rattlesnakes, which cattle instinctively know to avoid.
—Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Oct. 2025
When threatened, gopher snakes often flatten their heads and hiss loudly, mimicking rattlesnakes to deter predators.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025
These are one of four venomous snakes found in Texas alongside rattlesnakes, cottonmouths (also known as water moccasins) and coral snakes.
—Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rattlesnake
Cite this Entry
“Rattlesnake.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rattlesnake. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
rattlesnake
noun
rat·tle·snake
ˈrat-ᵊl-ˌsnāk
: any of various poisonous American snakes with a rattle at the end of the tail
Medical Definition
rattlesnake
noun
rat·tle·snake
ˈrat-ᵊl-ˌsnāk
: any of the American pit vipers that have a series of horny interlocking joints at the end of the tail which make a sharp rattling sound when vibrated and that comprise the genera Sistrurus and Crotalus see diamondback rattlesnake, tiger rattlesnake, timber rattlesnake
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