tinkling

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
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
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
Verb
  • Russell continued to improve his Heisman Trophy credentials by playing with composure amid the usual din of ringing cowbells at Mississippi State.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
  • The clip opens with an X-Pest exterminator guy ringing the doorbell at Butters’ home.
    — Tom Tapp, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • OpenAI said the notifications didn’t necessarily mean systems were compromised -- the activity may have been more like rattling a locked door than breaking it down.
    — Miriam Waldvogel, Washington Post, 1 Oct. 2026
  • The roar of the engines vibrated through the fuselage, rattling bones and teeth, while supply crates shifted and groaned with every lurch.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Your spidey-senses start tingling as the game winds down, and something just tells you to start rolling the camera.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 3 Oct. 2026
  • His legs and feet have begun to regain some feeling and tingling sensations.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Tinkling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tinkling. Accessed 10 Oct. 2026.

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