tinsel

1 of 3

noun

tin·​sel ˈtin(t)-səl 

 also  ˈtin-zəl

1

: threads, strips, or sheets of metal, paper, or plastic used to produce a glittering and sparkling appearance in fabrics, yarns, or decorations

2

: something superficially attractive or glamorous but of little real worth

disfigured by no gaudy tinsel of rhetoric or declamation

—Thomas Jefferson

tinsel

2 of 3

adjective

1

: made of or covered with tinsel

2

a

: cheaply gaudy : tawdry

b

: specious, superficial

tinsel promises

tinsel

3 of 3

verb

tinseled or tinselled; tinseling or tinselling ˈtin(t)-s(ə-)liŋ 

 also  ˈtin-zə-liŋ

transitive verb

1

: to interweave, overlay, or adorn with or as if with tinsel

2

: to impart a specious brightness to

Synonyms

Noun

• candyfloss [British]
• cotton candy
• eye candy

Examples of tinsel in a Sentence

Noun

I like to decorate the Christmas tree with tinsel.

He's not attracted to the tinsel and glitter of Hollywood.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

After all, those are the kinds of dreams that brought all of us to this crazy town of tinsel to begin with! —Fake Carol, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Nov. 2023

After a brief resurgence in the '80s, the tinsel trend is back again in full force. —Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Nov. 2023

Arrange small items onto the chipboard, adhere into place, then add small pieces of tinsel or garland. —Emily Vanschmus, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Nov. 2023

Wrap your tree in plaid ribbons in lieu of a glistening, tinsel garland, or opt for a pile of presents nestled underneath in your favorite plaid gift wrap. —Cameron Beall, Southern Living, 13 Nov. 2023

The trailer is filled with Curtis’ signature feel-good, witty banter and sparkly shots of Christmas tinsel in the background. —Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2023

Premiering December 4, follow along as expert artists and crafters of all kinds face new challenges to master and try not to get their tinsel in a tangle. —Jennifer Maas, Variety, 26 Oct. 2023

Give it a little sparkle with shimmery tinsel or garland. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Oct. 2023

By the 1870s, the art of tinsel painting migrated to the United States. —Lyndi McNulty, Baltimore Sun, 3 Sep. 2023

Adjective

Among the potential hazards are tinsel on trees, as well as ribbons and string used for wrapping packages. —Amy McGorry, Fox News, 25 Nov. 2023

Verb

Connor’s new prints, on the other hand, made by the industrial dye-sublimation process on aluminum, are but tinseled imitations of her own extraordinary originals. —Charles Desmarais, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Mar. 2018

And while my beard has tinseled, the intervening years haven’t exactly been kind to Rome either. —Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 1 June 2017

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Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English tyneseyle cloth interwoven with metallic thread, probably from Anglo-French tencelé, past participle of tenceler, estenceler to sparkle — more at stencil

First Known Use

Noun

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1575, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1594, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

tinsel

noun

tin·​sel

ˈtin(t)-səl

1

: a thread, strip, or sheet of metal, paper, or plastic used to produce a glittering effect

2

: something that seems attractive but is of little worth