clanks 1 of 2

noun

plural of clank
as in clangs
the loud sound made when metal strikes metal the car is making a funny clank, and this can't be good

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

clanks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of clank
as in clinks

Related Words

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of clanks
Noun
If starting offense early in the shot clock is good, then draining the clock late into possessions must mean clanks are on the way. — Fred Katz, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clanks
  1. clangs
  2. clinks
  3. rattles
  4. clatters
  5. clashes
  6. clicks
  7. rings
  8. chirps
Noun
  • The album’s official versions smooth out some of the buzzy sibilance of the bootlegs, but Hold Onto Me Infinity accommodates lots of tasteful clangs and wubs.
    — H.D. Angel, Pitchfork, 2 June 2026
Definition of clangs
Verb
  • As the bullet weight clinks and clacks along the bottom, bass will key in on your rig and follow it.
    — Derek Horner, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2026
  • Each robot, remotely operated, clinks glasses and gestures in unison, embodying the camaraderie and hope of the musical’s revolutionaries.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2025
Definition of clinks
Noun
  • Jigs with rattles are most productive and a big, active trailer is the way to go in muddy water.
    — David A. Brown, Outdoor Life, 1 July 2026
  • The seeds are loose and clatter around inside the pods, giving baptisia the name rattleweed, as children once used the seedpods as rattles.
    — Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 12 May 2026
Definition of rattles
Verb
  • Then, a mannequin clatters to the floor from the ceiling and breaks apart.
    — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 20 Nov. 2025
  • Deacon clatters off in his truck, leaving me to contemplate my new home.
    — Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Definition of clatters
Noun
  • Historic World Cup clashes, controversial refereeing calls, viral locker-room videos and a bombastic TV rant have deepened resentment, turning Argentina–Mexico tensions into a proxy battle over class, race and nationalism.
    — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 15 July 2026
  • Others, like the Charlie's Angels set imbroglio, stemmed from personality clashes and behind-the-scenes behavior.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 15 July 2026
Definition of clashes
Verb
  • The box clicks into the seat's underside, with the wires neatly concealed between the base and the back support bar.
    — Will Greenwald, PC Magazine, 9 July 2026
  • But by the time a user clicks, a lot of that persuasion and convincing has already happened.
    — Megan Poinski, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026
Definition of clicks
Noun
  • Layered pendant necklaces, rings and a slim bracelet completed the look.
    — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 13 July 2026
  • The University of Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2026 includes a pair with Super Bowl rings from the Chiefs, and one of the school’s greatest quarterbacks.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 13 July 2026
Definition of rings
Verb
  • Yurov laughs hysterically and chirps back at Kreider.
    — Michael Russo, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
Definition of chirps

Browse Nearby Words

clanking
clanks
clannish
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clanks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clanks. Accessed 18 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on clanks

Nglish: Translation of clanks for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

The Words of the Week - Jul 17
See More

Popular

See More

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
child-detective
Spot the Misspelled Word July 2026 Those little red underlines can't help you now...
See All