Meaning & use
rackety
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Making a lot of loud, unpleasant noise, especially of machines or vehicles.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after a linking verb: a rackety old car; the engine sounded rackety.
Patterns
- a rackety old car
- sound rackety
We drove through the countryside in a rackety old truck that shook at every bump.
The rackety air conditioner kept me awake all night with its constant rattling.
He complained about the rackety printing press in the basement.
adjectivecomparable
In a poor, shaky, or disorganized condition; likely to fall apart.
Grammar: Often used for buildings or organizations that are old and not well maintained.
Patterns
- a rackety old building
- look rackety
They lived in a rackety house that needed a new roof and fresh paint.
The business was rackety and barely making enough money to survive.
After years of neglect, the pier looked dangerously rackety.
Word forms
| comparative | racketier |
|---|---|
| superlative | racketiest |
Common combinations
- rackety old
- They bought a rackety old motorcycle for their son.
- sound rackety
- The pipes sound rackety when you turn on the hot water.
- a bit rackety
- The washing machine is a bit rackety, but it still works.
Synonyms and how they differ
- noisy
- More general and common; 'noisy' can describe any loud sound, while 'rackety' suggests a harsh, clattering noise.
- rickety
- Means shaky and likely to break, focusing on physical weakness rather than noise; 'rackety' often includes both noise and poor condition.
- clattery
- Emphasizes a series of short, hard knocking sounds; 'rackety' is broader and can include other loud noises.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: rackety or rickety? rackety or rockety?
rackety vs rickety
Means shaky and likely to collapse, but does not necessarily imply noise. A rickety chair is wobbly; a rackety chair is noisy.
rackety vs rockety
Not a common word; if used, it would mean like a rocket. Don't confuse it with 'rackety'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'rackety' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Rackety' describes something noisy and possibly shaky, like an old machine. It does not mean peaceful, tired, or tasty, so the other options are wrong.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “rackety”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.