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 Wellness guide Patrick Mauroner leads early-bird or afternoon hikes and e-bike rides through the Alpe di Siusi meadows, past fields tinkling with cowbells and grazed by pretty palomino horses. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026 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 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
  • Praise for Selldorf and her award-winning renovation was shown through clinking glasses, applause, and smiles around the room, as waiters in single file arrived with decadent dishes.
    — Eliza Jordan, Vogue, 21 Oct. 2026
  • 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
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
  • The frequency of strikes on the city has not slowed over the past month since that side of the conflict started, with missile alerts still ringing multiple times a week, sometimes multiple times a night.
    — Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 4 Nov. 2026
  • The rest of the track is otherwise excellent, with the drums hitting hard and cymbals ringing out clearly.
    — Mark Knapp, PC Magazine, 30 Oct. 2026
Definition of ringing
Verb
  • One aerial fight is a dazzler with long takes of planes swooping through the clouds accompanied by the teeth-rattling clatter of lightning bolts that crash against your ears like metal trashcan lids.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
  • The rise of Starlink has put pressure on legacy broadband providers like Charter and Comcast, with the new report about Boost Mobile also rattling wireless carriers.
    — Dade Hayes, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2026
Definition of rattling
Verb
  • The spidey senses of a Monterey school administrator started tingling when an invoice the food services director submitted for eggs, bacon and potatoes at Costco came with an exorbitant price tag.
    — Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026
  • Known as oral allergy syndrome, this cross-reaction can cause symptoms such as itching or tingling in the mouth.
    — Lauren Finney Harden, AJC.com, 20 Oct. 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 8 Nov. 2026.

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