prattle
Talk without substance
Prattle is idle, trivial talk—the kind of rambling chatter that goes on without saying much of substance.
Children prattle; so do nervous guests and bores at parties.
The word suggests harmlessness but also emptiness: She prattled on about her vacation while I tried to work.
As a noun, prattle is such talk itself: the prattle of toddlers, cocktail party prattle.
Talk rapidly, incoherently
- blabberRamble without substance
- yammerComplain loudly, persistently
- natterLight, aimless conversation
- blatherFoolish, pointless chatter
gabble · ramble · yap · clack · maunder · blab · patter · twitter
Senseless, silly talk
- twaddleTrivial, foolish talk
- piffleTrivial, worthless nonsense
- balderdashSenseless talk or writing
- hogwashFoolish or untrue talk
rubbish · rot · bunk · malarkey · tripe · hooey · gobbledygook · claptrap
Polite trivial conversation
- chitchatInformal light conversation
- pleasantriesPolite conversational formalities
- fluffLight, soft fibers
- frivolityUnserious, lighthearted conduct
inconsequential · superficial · banter · palaver · froth · empty words · hot air
Unconfirmed circulating story
- scandalDisgraceful public affair
- whisperSpeech without full voice
- tattleReveal another's wrongdoing
- hearsayUnverified secondhand information
buzz · tittle-tattle · backbite · scuttlebutt · secrets · idle talk · blabbermouth · busybody
Unmanned flying machine
- ramblingLong-winded and unfocused
- long-windedExcessively wordy, tediously so
- verboseMore words than necessary
- monotonousUnchangingly dull
wearisome · tiresome · incessant · unending · endless · interminable · repetitive · meandering
jabber
Talk rapidly, incoherently
blather · gabble · ramble · yap · clack · maunder · blab · patter · twitter · burble
drivel
Senseless, silly talk
- twaddleTrivial, foolish talk
- piffleTrivial, worthless nonsense
- balderdashSenseless talk or writing
hogwash · rubbish · rot · bunk · malarkey · tripe · hooey · gobbledygook · claptrap · gibberish
small talk
Polite trivial conversation
- chitchatInformal light conversation
- pleasantriesPolite conversational formalities
- fluffLight, soft fibers
frivolity · inconsequential · superficial · banter · palaver · froth · empty words · hot air
rumor
Unconfirmed circulating story
hearsay · buzz · tittle-tattle · backbite · scuttlebutt · secrets · idle talk · blabbermouth · busybody · earful
drone
Unmanned flying machine
- ramblingLong-winded and unfocused
- long-windedExcessively wordy, tediously so
- verboseMore words than necessary
monotonous · wearisome · tiresome · incessant · unending · endless · interminable · repetitive · meandering · going on
babytalk
Simplified speech for infants
- blatherbalderdash, baloney, blarney, blather, bunk
- chatterchat, chatting, chitchat, chit-chat, gab session
- chitchatsmall talk, banter, chitchat, chat, idle chat
- empty talkidle talk, hot air, drivel, blather, twaddle
- excessive talkingchattering, babbling, blather, rambling, nattering
- gibberishgibberish, nonsense, babbling, drivel, garble