rabble

4 synonyms and 2 antonyms for rabble, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Noun — A disorderly, unruly crowd of people.

Synonyms

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

mob

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

rout ragtag riffraff

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A disorderly, unruly crowd of people.

“Security struggled to hold back the rabble outside the stadium gates.”

mob rout ragtag riffraff

2. noun

A dismissive term for ordinary or common people, viewed as beneath one's notice.

“The aristocrat referred to the townsfolk as "the rabble."”

Opposites

elite aristocracy

How to use rabble

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

rabble-rouser an unruly rabble

Almost always negative or condescending in tone.

Etymology

From Middle English rablen, meaning to ramble or speak incoherently — the sense shifted from confused talk to a confused, unruly mass of people.

Full origin of rabble →

Frequently asked questions

What does “rabble” mean?

The word “rabble” means a disorderly, unruly crowd of people. In plain terms, a messy, disorderly crowd — often used with contempt for ordinary people en masse.

How do you pronounce “rabble”?

“Rabble” is pronounced RA-buhl (/ˈɹæbəl/ in IPA).

How do you use “rabble” in a sentence?

Here is “rabble” used in a sentence: “Security struggled to hold back the rabble outside the stadium gates.”

What part of speech is “rabble”?

“Rabble” is a noun.

Where does the word “rabble” come from?

The word “rabble” comes from Middle English. From Middle English rablen, meaning to ramble or speak incoherently — the sense shifted from confused talk to a confused, unruly mass of people.

How many meanings does “rabble” have?

“Rabble” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a disorderly, unruly crowd of people.

People also searched

elite mob aristocracy rout riffraff ragtag

Nearby words

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