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
Screenshots from a June 19 TikTok video of a dog sitting at the vet with a swollen face after being bit by a rattlesnake.
—
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
The dogs are all trained not to pull on the leash, to stay in formation and to steer clear of rattlesnakes by sight, sound or scent.
—Steve Lopez, Mercury News, 24 June 2025
During one break, Curtis hopped off his horse and beheaded a rattlesnake with a stroke of his whip.
—Carrie Dennis, Travel + Leisure, 14 June 2025
According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, between 7,000 to 8,000 people are bit by a venomous snake (including rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths and coral snakes) in the U.S. each year.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 25 May 2025
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Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 June 2025
The dogs are all trained not to pull on the leash, to stay in formation and to steer clear of rattlesnakes by sight, sound or scent.
—Steve Lopez, Mercury News, 24 June 2025
During one break, Curtis hopped off his horse and beheaded a rattlesnake with a stroke of his whip.
—Carrie Dennis, Travel + Leisure, 14 June 2025
According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, between 7,000 to 8,000 people are bit by a venomous snake (including rattlesnakes, copperheads, cottonmouths and coral snakes) in the U.S. each year.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 25 May 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 4 Jul. 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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