tinny

adjective

tin·​ny ˈti-nē How to pronounce tinny (audio)
tinnier; tinniest
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
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.
Users can now talk to Figure 03 naturally, without the tinny distortion common in voice assistants. Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2025 The power of the human voice, even transcribed imperfectly onto magnetic tape and played over a tinny speaker, was life-changing. Adam Verner september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025 Saturday afternoons weren’t complete without a browse through the racks, the smell of fresh plastic packaging, and the soundtrack of pop hits piped over tinny speakers. Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 14 Aug. 2025 The hum of a refrigerator, the distant drone of a neighbor’s lawnmower, the tinny bleeping of a vintage Gameboy, the rhythmic creak of trampoline springs in action. Guy Lodge, Variety, 10 Aug. 2025 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 16 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

tinny

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

More from Merriam-Webster on tinny

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