prate
Talk without substance
Prate means to talk at length about trivial matters, often tediously or foolishly.
The word carries a dismissive tone—what someone prates about isn't worth the breath spent on it: He prated on about his golf game while everyone's eyes glazed over.
Prate is literary and somewhat old-fashioned; prattle and blather are more common in everyday speech.
Foolish, pointless chatter
- chatterLight, rapid speech
- jabberTalk rapidly, incoherently
- gabbleRapid, muddled talk
- yammerComplain loudly, persistently
natter · blabber · tattle · twaddle · piffle · drivel · tittle-tattle · clack
Stray from the topic
- meanderTo travel without direction
- wanderMove without fixed direction
- maunderSpeak in unfocused circles
- expatiateSpeak or write extensively
bloviate · pontificate · drone · go on · run on · hold forth · speechify · sermonize
Failing to engage interest
- monotonousUnchangingly dull
- droningSustained monotonous sound
- wearisomeCausing fatigue through monotony
- tiresomeCausing boredom or annoyance
dull · long-winded · uninteresting · dreary · repetitive · soporific · mind-numbing · interminable
Using more language than necessary
- prolixExcessively wordy in speech
- loquaciousInclined to talk much
- garrulousTediously long-winded
- volubleInclined to talk freely
diffuse · redundant · superfluous · bombastic · grandiloquent · orotund · florid · pompous
Unconfirmed circulating story
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
- tittle-tattleTrivial, idle chatter
scuttlebutt · backbite · talebearer · gossipmonger · busybody · tell-tale · slander · buzz
blather
Foolish, pointless chatter
yammer · natter · blabber · tattle · twaddle · piffle · drivel · tittle-tattle · clack · yackety-yak
digress
Stray from the topic
- meanderTo travel without direction
- wanderMove without fixed direction
- maunderSpeak in unfocused circles
expatiate · bloviate · pontificate · drone · go on · run on · hold forth · speechify · sermonize · orate
boring
Failing to engage interest
- monotonousUnchangingly dull
- droningSustained monotonous sound
- wearisomeCausing fatigue through monotony
tiresome · dull · long-winded · uninteresting · dreary · repetitive · soporific · mind-numbing · interminable · windbag
wordy
Using more language than necessary
- prolixExcessively wordy in speech
- loquaciousInclined to talk much
- garrulousTediously long-winded
voluble · diffuse · redundant · superfluous · bombastic · grandiloquent · orotund · florid · pompous · overwrought
rumor
Unconfirmed circulating story
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
tittle-tattle · scuttlebutt · backbite · talebearer · gossipmonger · busybody · tell-tale · slander · buzz · chinwag
pratehold one's tongue
Deliberately not speak
be silent · keep quiet · remain silent · keep mum · clam up
pratediscourse
Formal communication on subjects
expound · deliberate · get to the point · elucidate · inform