What does ratted mean?
Rattled describes someone or something affected by a sudden shock, disturbance, or series of jolts. Its most common emotional use means nervous, unsettled, or no longer able to think calmly: a person may become rattled by bad news, an unexpected question, or a sudden change in circumstances. It can also imply confusion, as though the person's thoughts or plans have been knocked out of order. In a more literal sense, a vehicle, box, or group of objects may be rattled by repeated impacts or vigorous movement. The word is common in both formal and informal English, although expressions such as “visibly rattled” and “badly rattled” often carry an emotional or colloquial tone. Because it spans both mental and physical disturbance, “rattled” is especially useful for suggesting that someone has lost composure or equilibrium.
Nervous, shaken, or unsettled; thrown into confusion.
"The witness grew increasingly rattled during cross-examination."
Common in informal and semi-formal English. In this use, it usually describes a person who has lost some of their calm or confidence.
To shake rapidly or repeatedly, or to make someone nervous or confused.
"Thunder rattled the windows throughout the house."
In the physical sense, the subject is commonly something that can move or vibrate; in the emotional sense, someone is made nervous or confused.
Rattled can describe a person whose thoughts are shaking loose as easily as a bundle of nerves.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does ratted come from?
Rattled is the past participle and past-tense form of the English verb rattle, which was already in use in Middle English. The ultimate origin of rattle is uncertain, although it is associated with the rapid, repeated sound or movement that gives the word its meaning. English rattle has close cognates in other Germanic languages, including German rasseln and Dutch ratelen.
Related word forms
How ratted is actually used
The emotional senses are especially common in informal speech, while the physical sense is used more formally. Context determines whether the word means emotionally unsettled, mentally confused, or literally shaken.
Easily confused with ratted
Rattled usually means nervous or shaken, whereas raddled more often means confused, muddled, or disorganized.