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

Relevance

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 Just the sight of the glasses, dewy with condensation on the outside and filled to the rim with clinking ice, nearly chilled my body. — Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026 The smell of sterile floors, gowns, instruments on clinking metal trays. — Rebekah Taussig, Time, 7 July 2026 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
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 next thing the teen knew, his ears were ringing, and his friend was covered in blood.
    — Kerry Burke, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Morning brings the soft knock of a neighbor, friend or relative who knows there is no need for the formality of ringing a doorbell.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of ringing
Verb
  • And when the news first broke in Semafor last month that Paramount was seriously considering a move out of state, industry observers dismissed the threat as corporate saber rattling.
    — Chris Lee, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Kemp and Jackson united at the Georgia Chamber’s annual congressional luncheon for the first time since Jackson’s party-rattling primary win.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 7 Aug. 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 19 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on clinking

Nglish: Translation of clinking 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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of balmy

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

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

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Is “GIF” Pronounced “Jiff” or “Giff”?

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
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
image of a green cube out of place in a lineup of red spheres
Odd Word Out: Synonyms Vol. 2 Quiz Figure out which word isn't like the others.
See All