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
The Solano County Sheriff's Office did not immediately respond to requests for information on the whereabouts of the rattlesnakes.
—
Saleen Martin, USA Today, 17 May 2025
Diamondback rattlesnakes have a bite that is highly venomous to humans and can be fatal.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 16 May 2025
Rattlesnake season is well underway in Arizona, which is home to around 13 species—including the Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi), the official state reptile.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 May 2025
Baby spider monkey and 2 rattlesnakes discovered during California meth bust
Detectives from the First Precinct ended up obtaining a search warrant and were able to locate the .22 caliber gun allegedly used in the shooting in a shed on Trinh's property.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for rattlesnake
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Saleen Martin, USA Today, 17 May 2025
Diamondback rattlesnakes have a bite that is highly venomous to humans and can be fatal.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 16 May 2025
Rattlesnake season is well underway in Arizona, which is home to around 13 species—including the Arizona ridge-nosed rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi), the official state reptile.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 May 2025
Baby spider monkey and 2 rattlesnakes discovered during California meth bust
Detectives from the First Precinct ended up obtaining a search warrant and were able to locate the .22 caliber gun allegedly used in the shooting in a shed on Trinh's property.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 19 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 5 Jun. 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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