tinkle 1 of 2

as in rattle
a series of short high ringing sounds the soothing tinkle of the wind chime on the back porch

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tinkle

2 of 2

verb

as in to clink
to make a repeated sharp light ringing sound the bell around the cat's neck tinkled as he ran across the yard

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 tinkle
Noun
The door chime at their floral and gift shop tinkles every few minutes as another customer and friend comes in to collect their $10 bows. Trevor Hughes, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2024 On our first evening the piano bar—resplendent in gold Thai silks, with tiger orchids blooming across the green carpet—was filled with laughter, the glug-glug-glug of Champagne pouring, and the tinkle of keys. Arati Menon, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 May 2024
Verb
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, 4 Aug. 2025 The sound of the water tinkling on the fountain’s bronze statues makes my heart flutter. Laura Washington, Chicago Tribune, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for tinkle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tinkle
Noun
  • Think things like rattles, balls, activity gyms, and more.
    Kimberly Zapata, Parents, 2 Oct. 2025
  • The snake has a tiny rattle that sounds like the faint buzz of an insect, the TWRA told The Tennessean.
    Craig Shoup, Nashville Tennessean, 18 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Fashionistas, artists, and business people clink glasses at the bar and claim a corner of a couch to catch up.
    Kristin Braswell, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2025
  • The sound of laughter and clinking glass pours out of the windows and onto the streets.
    Jonathan Terrell, Rolling Stone, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • With no wheels touching the rails, the usual clatter and vibration of trains disappear.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
  • In an era where fingertips skim glass screens and keyboards clatter in relentless rhythm, the act of putting pen to paper feels almost radical.
    Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • Some say his spurs are still jingling down the hallway, chasing after her.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Oct. 2025
  • With real feathers and a jingling bell, this feather cat teaser taps into your cat’s natural hunting instincts.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Cloudy chords, meditative tintinnabulation, the whoosh of wind and rain, blocks of iridescent brass — all these discrete sonorities trundled by, like a train of boxcars with panoramas painted on their sides.
    Justin Davidson, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Shivaree, chthonian, erumpent, tintinnabulation, exonumia, requiescat, deipnosophist, omphaloskepsis, horripilation, deliquesce, apopemptic.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2021
Verb
  • The Grosse Cloche has been ringing for more than 200 years in the charming city of Bordeaux, France.
    Alexandra Banner, CNN Money, 7 Oct. 2025
  • Yannick Nézet-Séguin, in the pit, let the voices ring out clearly.
    Alex Ross, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tinkle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tinkle. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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