1
as in to split (on)
to give information (as to the authorities) about another's improper or unlawful activities
how much—or how little—did the fuzz have to pay you to rat on us?
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in to desert
to leave (a cause or party) often in order to take up another
many party operatives ratted on the senator's candidacy once her poll numbers started to slip
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rat (on)
Verb
-
These fighters were the anti-fascist Resistance—men who’d deserted the armies of Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini and were preparing to fight for freedom.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
1 Apr. 2025 -
Never desert a blaze: Avoid leaving any fire unattended.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Prior to the premiere, O’Brien talked to Variety about the challenge of playing dual parts.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
8 Apr. 2025
-
The Handmaid's Tale creator Bruce Miller talks the shocking reunion in the season 6 premiere.—
Lauren Huff,
EW.com,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
There are plenty of glaring examples, such as Steve Jobs and Google being rejected by some of the world’s most renowned VCs (https://www.bvp.com/anti-portfolio).—
Dileep Rao,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Superior Court Judge Craig Collins from neighboring Gaston county also rejected it after Tench’s friends and family — his mother, sister and aunts — submitted and read aloud letters underlining the effect Tench’s disappearance and apparent death have had.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Giamatti plays Phillip, living alone in a Cape Cod estate inherited from his parents when he’s interrupted by a phone call informing him of the death of an old girlfriend Carol.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
10 Apr. 2025
-
The Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station watch commander informed the Times no crime had taken place at the residence.—
Mackenzie Cummings-Grady,
Billboard,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Heading them is none other than Robert Keller, who wasn’t killed after all, and now blames his big bro for abandoning him.—
Dennis Harvey,
Variety,
11 Apr. 2025
-
The Indonesian government was floating a moratorium to stop the construction of new hotels, villas and nightclubs in Bali, in an effort to curb over tourism—an idea that was abandoned at the start of the year.—
Michelle Tchea,
Robb Report,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The witness told investigators that Griffin swerved to cut off Francis, court documents read, at which point Francis pulled up beside the of the green Sierra and allegedly fired four to five shots into the truck through the front window on the drivers’ side.—
Ilana Arougheti,
Kansas City Star,
10 Apr. 2025
-
Italy has halted talks on a potential $1.5 billion deal for secure government communications amid outrage over threats to cut off Ukraine’s access to Starlink.—
Jeremy Bogaisky,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Cite this Entry
“Rat (on).” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rat%20%28on%29. Accessed 15 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share