1
as in signal
an object intended to give public notice or warning the tocsin rang out, warning us of the approaching tornado

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2
as in warning
something that tells of approaching danger or risk noted that a sudden drop in a student's grades may be a tocsin of a serious personal problem

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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 tocsin Singer Building housed a sewing-machine company, but its slender campanile might have served to ring tocsins or watch for approaching armies. Justin Davidson, Curbed, 3 Aug. 2023 The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Hudson Institute, and AEI have all been sounding the tocsin about Iran for decades. Jacob Heilbrunn, The New Republic, 23 Jan. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tocsin
Noun
  • Realmuto slapped Castellanos on the butt after the home-plate umpire issued a rare double-safe signal.
    Matt Gelb, New York Times, 21 June 2025
  • Ham radio operators — especially those in Hawaii — may have noticed a sudden loss of signal on frequencies below 25 MHz shortly after the flare erupted, according to spaceweather.com.
    Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 20 June 2025
Noun
  • While major plot developments have been withheld to preserve the viewing experience, the network has requested spoiler warnings on all reviews.
    Alison Herman, Variety, 26 June 2025
  • Many of the latest driver-assist safety systems like forward automatic emergency braking and blind spot warning abound in this segment to protect one’s most-precious cargo.
    Jim Gorzelany, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tocsin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tocsin. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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