as in fool
a person who lacks good sense or judgment
some ding-a-ling set off the fire alarm by burning paper in a wastebasket
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Recent Examples of ding-a-ling
Why portray Dorothy as a doe-eyed ding-a-ling; as not just naive but dumb?
—
Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Lili Anolik, Vanity Fair, 12 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ding-a-ling
Noun
-
This game makes fools of us all.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
-
But while that conversation was happening upstairs, Brian was downstairs making a fool of her yet again.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
15 June 2026
Noun
-
The lunatics are running the asylum.—
Eugenie Brinkema,
ARTnews.com,
14 June 2026
-
Tony Hale, Alia Shawkat, Michael Cera, Will Arnett and other lunatics round out the cast.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
While there’s no denying that gooseneck loosestrife (Lysimachia clethroides) is a charming plant with sweet white flowers that resemble a goose's neck, it's also widely recognized as a troublesome invasive.—
Samantha Johnson,
Martha Stewart,
7 June 2026
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This typically gets worse over time and is often accompanied by a harsh goose-honking cough triggered by excitement or exercise.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
The Martin Lawrence vehicle Martin, which ran for five glorious seasons, offered a terrific platform for Lawrence to run around like a maniac as an energetic radio DJ.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
8 June 2026
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Donald also had a reputation for being a maniac about taking care of his body and staying in shape.—
Armando Salguero,
FOXNews.com,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Hopefully, now this kid can stop being a moody ass little ding-dong about it.—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
8 May 2026
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While moist’s related meanings certainly might drive our dislike, Max Müller’s ding-dong theory, known now as sound symbolism, provides an alternative, suggesting it instead (or also) might have something to do with the specific sounds that are in the word.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Lluís then calls Puig Antich a moron.—
Colm Tóibín,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2026
-
This drunk moron — quite different from his character in the novel — bears a ton of blame.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Massages, facials, and personal training sessions can be booked, and the relaxation area with two loungers is a mini oasis with complementary water and nuts.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 June 2026
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Picturing a few thousand more enthusiastic soccer nuts in this space, crowded together in the heat, was enough to quicken my stride to the Hudson.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Ding-a-ling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ding-a-ling. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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