clinking

verb

present participle of clink
as in jingling
to make a repeated sharp light ringing sound coins clinking in his pocket as he traipsed down the street

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 clinking The central lobby space is a social scene abuzz with people enjoying formal afternoon tea, clinking glasses at the Champagne bar (rotating themes and partnerships add variety for locals) or tucking into meals at the dining room. — Ramsey Qubein, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 Avtan often won’t tell Paz anything about the source or meaning of her many samples, which can take the form of fragmented dialogue and what sounds like clinking kitchenware. — Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 15 June 2026 In the heart of the Altstadt, a short walk from Marienplatz, another of Munich’s must-sees, Hofbrauhaus is a swirl of oompah music, clinking liters and travelers discovering that Bavarian exuberance doesn’t require a festival. — David Dickstein, Oc Register, 10 June 2026 Where to Eat Linger for hours on the patio at Lakeside Chophouse, clinking glasses of Vinho Verde and watching deer saunter by. — Shilo Urban, Travel + Leisure, 19 May 2026 The hushed buzz of clinking Champagne glasses or afternoon tea pots pouring steaming cups comes from the adjacent lobby lounge. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 May 2026 The pleasantly buzzy ballroom, cast in semi-dimmed lighting, filled with excited chatter and clinking silverware, felt like a slightly unwieldy wedding reception. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 8 May 2026 The trek up the swinging staircase, twinkle lights clinking with each step, had my heart pounding for more reason than one. — Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 14 Feb. 2026 The photo, which is embedded above, shows the three leading ladies Kerry Washington, Elisabeth Moss and Kate Mara clinking glasses with cheerful looks on their faces. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clinking
  1. jingling
  2. tinkling
  3. ringing
  4. rattling
Verb
  • The Household Cavalry, on dark horses and with brightly shining breastplates, trotted past, jingling like a cutlery drawer.
    — Sam Knight, New Yorker, 14 May 2026
  • The hiker then begins jingling bells in the bear's face in an attempt to scare it off, but the bear charges forward.
    — Christopher Edwards, PEOPLE, 23 Apr. 2026
Definition of jingling
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 tinkling
Verb
  • The dust that rises in the afternoons reaches Calama, ringing people’s lives like a halo of potential death.
    — Cristina Dorador, The Dial, 14 July 2026
  • By the end of Friday, the market had given a ringing endorsement .
    — Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 11 July 2026
Definition of ringing
Verb
  • Though brief, Yoon’s martial law declaration plunged South Korea into a political crisis, paralyzing politics and high-level diplomacy while rattling financial markets.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 July 2026
  • High yields worldwide have been rattling investors since the war sent oil prices bursting above $100 per barrel in March.
    — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026
Definition of rattling

Browse Nearby Words

clinkety-clanks
clinking
clinks
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Clinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinking. Accessed 17 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on clinking

Nglish: Translation of clinking for Spanish Speakers

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