tocsin

noun

ˈtäk-sən How to pronounce tocsin (audio)
Definition of tocsinnext
1
as in signal
an object intended to give public notice or warning the tocsin rang out, warning us of the approaching tornado

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in warning
something that tells of approaching danger or risk noted that a sudden drop in a student's grades may be a tocsin of a serious personal problem

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tocsin Singer Building housed a sewing-machine company, but its slender campanile might have served to ring tocsins or watch for approaching armies. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 3 Aug. 2023 The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Hudson Institute, and AEI have all been sounding the tocsin about Iran for decades. — Jacob Heilbrunn, The New Republic, 23 Jan. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tocsin
  1. signal
  2. warning
Noun
  • The power of prediction markets derives precisely from sucking our attention toward what’s speculable—incentivizing the networked crowd to separate signal from noise at scale.
    — Simon Denny, Artforum, 1 Oct. 2026
  • This scattering of light and even electromagnetic radiation by particles that are smaller than the wavelength of the radiation opens up the possibility of signals reaching the receiver, even when the transmitter is not in line-of-sight.
    — Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of signal
Noun
  • Less than an hour after the first warning that a wildfire was headed for her suburban street, Boulder County resident Tawnya Somauroo's home was in ashes.
    — LINDSAY WHITEHURST, Arkansas Online, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Crash reported on eastbound I-70 A traffic warning has been issued after a crash on I-70 between U P RR Service Road/Exit 421 and I-670/I-70.
    — Kansas City Star Bot, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of warning

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to come
tocsin
tocsins
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Cite this Entry

“Tocsin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tocsin. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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