tinkling

verb

present participle of tinkle
as in clinking
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

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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 tinkling 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 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 Transform a handful of old keys into a charming wind chime that adds a gentle, tinkling sound to your outdoor space. — Katie Cloyd, Martha Stewart, 17 Jan. 2026 Eerie chants, tinkling percussion, zany strings, and plucky swelling piano. — Grace Byron, Vulture, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tinkling
  1. clinking
  2. jingling
  3. ringing
  4. rattling
  5. tingling
Verb
  • 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
Definition of clinking
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
  • Wednesday is no different, with crude prices marching back towards triple digits and inflation sirens ringing from Beijing to London to Washington.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 9 Sep. 2026
  • The Scream saga began with a ringing phone and one of the most surprising murders in horror-movie history.
    — Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of ringing
Verb
  • And yep, my phone was rattling like a Richter Scale when all that happened, too.
    — Jayson Stark, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
  • The song was a frenetic evolution of Brooklyn drill—the grimy, bone-rattling subgenre of hip-hop popularized by Bobby Shmurda—and its instrumental by the British producer 808Melo gave it a brash East London bounce.
    — Taran Dugal, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of rattling
Verb
  • And, in recent years, a new culinary wave has emerged, as chefs create bold fusion dishes or, more subtly, adapt Japanese recipes to uniquely Brazilian produce, from Amazon river fish to jambu, a tongue-tingling herb.
    — The Week UK, TheWeek, 6 Sep. 2026
  • Paper menus allow diners to tick off orders of lip-tingling laab, luscious khao soi, and juicy pomelo salad, feeling like a never-ending invitation to add just one more course.
    — The Bon Appétit Staff, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of tingling

Browse Nearby Words

tinkles
tinkling
tin lizzie
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Cite this Entry

“Tinkling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tinkling. Accessed 9 Sep. 2026.

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