clinking

Definition of clinkingnext
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 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 The clip showed the pair clinking spoons and laughing together, turning what began as a brief welfare check into a relaxed exchange between neighbors passing time during the outage. Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 30 Jan. 2026 Picture a bunch of people descending in private jets to eat steak and appear on panels about alleviating poverty and fighting climate change (among other noble goals), while clinking cocktail glasses with other fellow rich people in an effort to make one another even richer. Allison Morrow, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026 Servers were trading off shifts and the bar was clinking away. Zareen Syed, Chicago Tribune, 16 Jan. 2026 So the pair took a romp through wine country for Christina’s birthday, clinking glasses at Progeny Winery in Napa Valley and Restoration Hardware in Yountville. Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 3 Jan. 2026 Later on, the younger kids in bed, a gathering of lawn chairs, clinking ice, and summer crickets or cicadas, frogs, whatever, Ray, what is that? David Searcy, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025 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, 22 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for clinking
Verb
  • The live action How the Grinch Stole Christmas led the way, jingling all the way to 669M minutes viewed.
    Katie Campione, Deadline, 22 Dec. 2025
  • The next signs of the nation’s political divide might be jingling in your pocket next year.
    Chris Isidore, CNN Money, 12 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • The marbled, frescoed, octagonal room was domed to amplify the sound of a tinkling keys at the center, and hosted regular recitals.
    Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 9 Feb. 2026
  • The Drawing Room is best for afternoon teas accompanied by a tinkling piano.
    Lydia Bell, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • The steak was soft on the inside and as crunchy as the herb-flecked fries on the out, and the buttery Dijon spread ringing the plate added a lively dimension.
    Matthew Odam, Austin American Statesman, 2 Mar. 2026
  • While bystanders and emergency responders were working to revive him, Kreda’s wife Noreen, who is originally from Winnetka, was at home when her phone started ringing.
    Alexandra Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
  • In the 78th minute, Manukian completed his brace by rattling a shot into the bottom right corner from 10 yards out.
    Clark Fahrenthold, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
  • Anthropic launched Claude Cowork in a research capacity last month, rattling software stocks as investors grappled with AI's disruptive potential.
    Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 24 Feb. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Clinking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/clinking. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.

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