tinsel

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noun tin·sel \ ˈtin(t)-səl also ˈtin-zəl \

Definition of tinsel

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

See tinsel defined for English-language learners

See tinsel defined for kids

Examples of tinsel in a Sentence

I like to decorate the Christmas tree with tinsel.
He's not attracted to the tinsel and glitter of Hollywood.

Recent Examples of tinsel from the Web

Bags of confetti, both the paper and metallic variety, were a must-have; followed by horns with tinsel and a variety of party blowers.

— benjamin oreskes, latimes.com, "Essential California: A new gold rush is on, sparked by California’s post-drought snowmelt," 29 July 2017
Two miles off the coast of Key Biscayne and 30 miles under the waves, pieces of coral sway from white pipes like tinsel on Christmas tree branches.

— brooke henderson, miamiherald, "Miami Seaquarium and UM unveil new coral reef restoration exhibit," 24 July 2017
Although there are traces of the intervening decades – a disco ball, gold tinsel, a rainbow carpet from the 1980s, a digital photo booth –

— chris stirewalt, Fox News, "GOP uses up its margin for error," 17 July 2017
Tear off tiny stars from a strand of star tinsel and place a small dot of eyelash glue on the back.

— brooke shunatona, Cosmopolitan, "11 Halloween Looks You Can Create With Makeup You Already Have," 30 June 2017
But the Yuletide insanity worked, especially during a scene where the moms steal a terrible tinsel tree from the mall.

— bryan alexander, USA TODAY, "See 'Bad Moms' reject 'Christmas' perfection in exclusive first photos," 27 June 2017
Every November, the Papahristou family transforms its Southington restaurant into a dazzling winter fantasy land, with grand, glittering seasonal displays of lights, garland, wreaths, tinsel and ornaments.

— leeanne griffin, courant.com, "Cava Opens New Opulent Rooftop Patio," 5 June 2017
Not Kylie Jenner, in floral-and-tinsel-strewn see-through Versace, or Halle Berry, also in Versace, with black and white feathers sprouting from the train.

— vanessa friedman, New York Times, "Reviewing the Met Gala: The Good, the Avant-Garde, the Absurd," 2 May 2017
Bobbi Brown's is complete with four shades (from top left to right: Tinsel, Silver, Blue Onyx, and Lava) that can be mixed in any combination for a dramatic lid that can be blended with a brush or smudged with your fingertips.

— jessica prince erlich, Harper's BAZAAR, "Beauty Must-Have: Bobbi Brown Onyx and Silver Eye Paint Palette," 30 Nov. 2011

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tinsel.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of tinsel

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

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First Known Use: 1538

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tinsel Synonyms

Synonyms

candyfloss [British], eye candy, cotton candy

Related Words

window dressing; fluff, froth, gossamer; glitter, gloss

tinsel

adjective

Definition of tinsel

1 :made of or covered with tinsel

2 a :cheaply gaudy :tawdry

b :specious, superficial

tinsel promises

First Known Use of tinsel

1575

tinsel

verb

Definition of tinsel

tinseled or tinselled; tinseling or tinselling play \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

Recent Examples of tinsel from the Web

And while my beard has tinseled, the intervening years haven’t exactly been kind to Rome either.

— jason horowitz, New York Times, "My Rome: Still a Classic Beauty," 1 June 2017

First Known Use of tinsel

1594

TINSEL Defined for English Language Learners

tinsel

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noun

Definition of tinsel for English Language Learners

: thin strips of shiny metal or paper that are used as decoration
: something that seems attractive or appealing but is of little worth

TINSEL Defined for Kids

tinsel

play

noun tin·sel \ ˈtin-səl \

Definition of tinsel for Students

1 :a thread or strip of metal or plastic used for decoration

2 :something that seems attractive but is of little worth

Learn More about tinsel

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tinsel Spanish Central: Translation of tinsel Nglish: Translation of tinsel for Spanish speakers

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Origin and Etymology of tinsel

tinsel Synonyms

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Related Words

tinsel

Definition of tinsel

First Known Use of tinsel

tinsel

Definition of tinsel

Recent Examples of tinsel from the Web

First Known Use of tinsel

TINSEL Defined for English Language Learners

tinsel

Definition of tinsel for English Language Learners

TINSEL Defined for Kids

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