as in glitter
something attractive but lacking in substance
a book that examines popular fame and finds it to be very disposable tinsel
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tinsel
All contaminants — ornaments, lights, tinsel, tree stands and other decorations — need to be removed for the trees to be accepted.
—
Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Rather than addressing the fundamental issues at play in the top two tiers, the spangle and tinsel come first.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 13 May 2025
In one, a Christmas tree decorated with tinsel and bulbs stands in the Oval Room on the presidential mansion’s second floor.
—Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2025
Be mindful of decorations: Introduce holiday decor gradually, ensuring items such as tinsel, garlands and plants (e.g., mistletoe, poinsettias) are out of reach to prevent ingestion or injury.
—Lucy Notarantonio, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for tinsel
Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Rather than addressing the fundamental issues at play in the top two tiers, the spangle and tinsel come first.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 13 May 2025
In one, a Christmas tree decorated with tinsel and bulbs stands in the Oval Room on the presidential mansion’s second floor.
—Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 18 Jan. 2025
Be mindful of decorations: Introduce holiday decor gradually, ensuring items such as tinsel, garlands and plants (e.g., mistletoe, poinsettias) are out of reach to prevent ingestion or injury.
—Lucy Notarantonio, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for tinsel
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tinsel
Noun
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Vibrant oranges, milky mints, bright blues, and muted peaches from the album cover mingle well with golds and silvers, high-shine gloss, glitter, ombré, and aura fades.—
Abby Dupes,
Allure,
26 Sep. 2025
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Taylor Swift was spotted wearing these glitter freckles while supporting fiancé Travis Kelce at a Kansas City Chiefs game.—
Jessica Comstock,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Whether as an ingredient or flavor inspiration, pickles have worked their way into all sorts of food and drinks, including cotton candy, ice cream and corn dogs.—
The Washington Post,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Sep. 2025
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There are also planets like WASP-193b, which is larger than Jupiter but light and wispy like cotton candy, and inhospitable worlds like WASP-107b, where sandy clouds high in the atmosphere fall like rain onto the surface.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
22 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tinsel.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tinsel. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.
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