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 of tinsel

Noun

• glitter
• cotton 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

For their final stop, Marlow guided her students up the steps of Junque Drawer Studio, a beloved local shop in a house decorated in tinsel and lights. —Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 18 Dec. 2025

As Blanco gets closer to the tree, viewers can see all the stunning details Weiss made sure to include — from the silver tinsel to the old-school train set circling the outside. —Natalia Senanayake, PEOPLE, 16 Dec. 2025

Adjective

Looking for a tinsel alternative that’s easier to hang (and less likely to be devoured by your pets)? —Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Dec. 2025

Discovery's film and streaming assets, ending the sale process that has been the talk of tinsel town. —Alex Harring, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2025

Verb

Bedecking the old fish-out-of-water story formula in holiday garb and tinseling it with some apt moral messages for this dysfunctional age, screenwriters Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick have concocted a satisfyingly new-fangled Christmas yarn. —Duane Byrge, HollywoodReporter, 11 Nov. 2025

Irvington's Salon Citrine is offering hair tinseling for $10 per strand. —Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 29 Oct. 2024

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