tinny

adjective

tin·​ny ˈti-nē How to pronounce tinny (audio)
tinnier; tinniest
Synonyms of tinnynext
1
: thin in tone
a tinny voice
2
a
: resembling tin
b
c
: lacking depth or substance : empty
tinny arguments
3
: of, abounding in, or yielding tin
tinnily adverb
tinniness noun

Examples of tinny in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Plus, the pedals were sticky, as were some of the black keys in the middle, and while the lower register wasn’t great, the upper register was worse—tinny, due to worn‑out felt on the hammers. Literary Hub, 6 May 2026 This happened because Sterling was a man of very rare gifts, starting with a set of pipes that, even in his late 80s, could make the grandest church organ sound like a tinny, old saloon piano. Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 6 May 2026 The song strips the original’s iconic beefy melody down for parts, replacing it with tinny drumbeats and a minimal synthline, a sound that would become electroclash’s hallmark. Cameron Cook, Pitchfork, 20 Apr. 2026 As the sun set, news from Memphis broke into the music on his tinny radio. Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tinny

Word History

First Known Use

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of tinny was in 1552

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Cite this Entry

“Tinny.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tinny. Accessed 12 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

tinny

adjective
tin·​ny ˈtin-ē How to pronounce tinny (audio)
tinnier; tinniest
: resembling or suggesting tin

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