as in lunatic
a person who lacks good sense or judgment
there's always one ding-dong in the tour group who wanders off and gets lost
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 ding-dong
Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025
Bomer is good when Jerry the ding-dong must navigate a moment of real sentiment or complication; the juxtaposition is effective.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
That was a fantastically exciting ding-dong 2-2 — with Atletico missing a 99th penalty and eventually being eliminated from the Champions League after the group stage.
—Dermot Corrigan, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
Not a very productive interrogation … that is until there’s a ding-dong at the door.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2024
Ditch the classic ding-dong and instead opt for a more holiday-appropriate sound, like a howl, a cackling witch, or other creepy sounds.
—Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2024
The mess-up puts Jamie and Marian in the crosshairs of a local crime organization headed by a soft-spoken brute known only as the Chief (Colman Domingo), who enlists two thuggish ding-dongs to get the suitcase back.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2024
Verb
In 2020, three 16-year-olds were killed when a man rammed his car into their vehicle in retaliation for pulling a ding-dong-ditch prank on him.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2025
Bomer is good when Jerry the ding-dong must navigate a moment of real sentiment or complication; the juxtaposition is effective.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
That was a fantastically exciting ding-dong 2-2 — with Atletico missing a 99th penalty and eventually being eliminated from the Champions League after the group stage.
—Dermot Corrigan, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
Not a very productive interrogation … that is until there’s a ding-dong at the door.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2024
Ditch the classic ding-dong and instead opt for a more holiday-appropriate sound, like a howl, a cackling witch, or other creepy sounds.
—Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2024
The mess-up puts Jamie and Marian in the crosshairs of a local crime organization headed by a soft-spoken brute known only as the Chief (Colman Domingo), who enlists two thuggish ding-dongs to get the suitcase back.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ding-dong
Noun
-
So here’s this lunatic with a crew cut.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
27 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Where that show’s boss (played by Steve Carell) was a bit of an inappropriate fool, Gleeson’s character is more idealistic.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
4 Sep. 2025
-
These jokers in Indianapolis acting the fool.—
Chris Sims,
IndyStar,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Tennessee’s Republicans, who hold stable supermajorities in state government, were always going to clash with the mayor.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
5 Sep. 2025
-
The impact on lottery prizes is probably the last thing that the central bank and the White House concern themselves with when clashing over what to do with interest rates.—
Chris Isidore,
CNN Money,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Made from the fatty liver of a duck or goose, most foie gras production faces accusations of force-feeding the animals.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
1 Sep. 2025
-
The short’s synopsis reads: After the death of her husband, Janet decides to distract herself by rearing a goose, which is to be the centrepiece of her Christmas dinner.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
20 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Dogs showing signs of separation anxiety may benefit from gradual desensitization to being alone and learning to dissociate cues like jingling keys from being left alone.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 July 2025
-
Some hikers wear small bells that jingle while walking, signaling their presence to animals.—
Ruffin Prevost,
AFAR Media,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
Stir in pecans and cook, stirring often, until nuts are toasted and butter is browned, 5 to 7 minutes.—
Kimberly Holland,
Southern Living,
8 Sep. 2025
-
The best vitamins for nails come from eating foods like leafy greens, eggs, nuts, seeds, sweet potato, cold water fish, and more that are rich in a few key vitamins.—
Brianna Peters,
Vogue,
6 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
La Cañada resident Trent Sanders, who frequently dings California’s liberal politicos in emails to me and my colleagues, thinks Trump is generally on the right track three months into his term, but with a few caveats.—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Each application requires the card issuer or lender to pull your credit report, which results in a hard inquiry on your report and dings your credit score a few points.—
Dan Avery,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The soothing, deeply resonant humming of the bowls and sparkling tinkling of chimes filled the room.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
12 Aug. 2025
-
The herds are decked out in crowns of flowers, and the air will be noisy, full of tinkling bells as the cattle trudge down from the higher Alpine pastures to the lower stretches of greenery in and around this town.—
AFAR Media,
AFAR Media,
4 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ding-dong.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ding-dong. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share