babble
20 synonyms and 1 antonym for babble, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Verb — To talk quickly and continuously in a way that is unclear, meaningless, or hard to follow.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. verb
To talk quickly and continuously in a way that is unclear, meaningless, or hard to follow.
“He babbled nervously through the entire interview.”
talk
sing
bubble
peach
ripple
blab
burble
tattle
babbling
guggle
gurgle
blather
smatter
blether
blither
blab out
lallation
babble out
spill the beans
let the cat out of the bag
Opposites
How to use babble
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
babble on
babble incoherently
a babble of voices
Etymology
From Old English roots meaning "to chatter", likely imitating the repetitive sounds of infant speech (compare "baby").
Full origin of babble →Frequently asked questions
What does “babble” mean?
The word “babble” means to talk quickly and continuously in a way that is unclear, meaningless, or hard to follow. In plain terms, to talk fast and unclearly, or (for a baby) to make speech-like sounds before real words come.
How do you pronounce “babble”?
“Babble” is pronounced BAB-l (/ˈbæb.(ə)l/ in IPA).
How do you use “babble” in a sentence?
Here is “babble” used in a sentence: “He babbled nervously through the entire interview.”
What part of speech is “babble”?
Depending on how it is used, “babble” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “babble” come from?
The word “babble” comes from Old English. From Old English roots meaning "to chatter", likely imitating the repetitive sounds of infant speech (compare "baby").
How many meanings does “babble” have?
“Babble” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to talk quickly and continuously in a way that is unclear, meaningless, or hard to follow.
Related words
babblement
babblery
