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clink 1 of 2

noun

Definition of clinknext
slang
as in jail
a place of confinement for persons held in lawful custody I once spent a night in the clink, and it's an experience I don't want to repeat

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

clink

2 of 2

verb

ˈkliŋk How to pronounce clink (audio)
as in to jingle
to make a repeated sharp light ringing sound coins clinking in his pocket as he traipsed down the street

Synonyms & Similar 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 clink
Noun
The beer brand encourages users to exchange details or connect on social media with each clink. — Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 18 Apr. 2026 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
Verb
In the next shot, the couple clinked wine glasses as Gomez took a bite of cheese, before Blanco filmed marinara sauce being laid in a pan. — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026 The smell of sterile floors, gowns, instruments on clinking metal trays. — Rebekah Taussig, Time, 7 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for clink
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clink
  1. jail
  2. jingle
  3. prison
  4. tinkle
  5. penitentiary
  6. ring
  7. chink
  8. rattle
Noun
  • Bailee Lynn Rios, 36, of Simi Valley, was arrested Tuesday night and was being held at a Los Angeles jail with bail set at $4 million, police said Wednesday.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Sep. 2026
  • At the time, Brown, who has a history of mental health problems, was out of jail on bail for misuse of the 911 system.
    — Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2026
Definition of jail
Verb
  • Just when things seemed too contentious and/or boring to a late-night viewer, Stewart knew when to jingle the keys in our face.
    — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 24 July 2026
  • On the walls, a few pots hang from a copper rod, a dinner bell waits to be jingled, and an ancient clock keeps time.
    — Elazar Sontag, Washington Post, 2 July 2026
Definition of jingle
Noun
  • This allegation makes Nick eligible for life in prison without parole or the death penalty if convicted.
    — Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 15 Sep. 2026
  • The government is asking him to serve 18 months in prison, and had an initial sentencing date of May 26.
    — Sam Blum, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of prison
Verb
  • The small fragments of colorful glass, strung along together, produce soothing sounds, their tinkling notes wafting through the air alongside a chorus of windchimes and the sweet scent of plumeria blooming in the garden.
    — Michael James Rocha, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 July 2026
  • Food and drink Fontana restaurant is the main attraction here, with an inviting courtyard and a tinkling fountain lending a European feel.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 June 2026
Definition of tinkle
Noun
  • Still, even on video, Davis doesn’t appear wracked with guilt or anguish about the possibility of spending the rest of his life in the Nevada penitentiary system.
    — Jeff Weiss, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Beginning in 1908, after federal prisons opened in Atlanta, Georgia, and Leavenworth, Kansas, most federal prisoners were sent to these new federal prisons, and cells began to empty at the West Virginia state penitentiary.
    — Ella Siegrist, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of penitentiary
Verb
  • Till the very last song, the unwavering Latin pride that rang through the stadium was potent, especially at a time when the community needs it most.
    — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The boos that rang round Old Trafford on Wednesday have become a familiar sound in recent times.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026
Definition of ring
Verb
  • The great room’s pale logs with visible chinking contrast with ultra white floors and drywall.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 25 May 2026
  • The halcyon days of chinking champagne flutes, spacious seating, and sense of adventure has long been replaced by the budget sardine-can approach to air travel.
    — Chris Haslam, Wired News, 1 May 2026
Definition of chink
Verb
  • First, there was the sight of Kylian Mbappe rattling in Madrid’s opening goal to move alongside Raul Gonzalez as the joint fifth all-time scorer in Champions League history.
    — Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Morgan’s resolute denials pleased his family and friends, but in fact he was deeply rattled.
    — Business Columnist, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of rattle

Browse Nearby Words

clinics
clink
clinked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clink.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clink. Accessed 21 Sep. 2026.

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