as in lunatic
a person who lacks good sense or judgment
there's always one ding-dong in the tour group who wanders off and gets lost
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Recent Examples of ding-dong
Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
That was a fantastically exciting ding-dong 2-2 — with Atletico missing a 99th penalty and eventually being eliminated from the Champions League after the group stage.
—Dermot Corrigan, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
Not a very productive interrogation … that is until there’s a ding-dong at the door.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2024
Ditch the classic ding-dong and instead opt for a more holiday-appropriate sound, like a howl, a cackling witch, or other creepy sounds.
—Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2024
Up on the quite lush chopping block in season three is, appropriately, sibling No. 3, traveling ding-dong Colin.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 16 May 2024
The mess-up puts Jamie and Marian in the crosshairs of a local crime organization headed by a soft-spoken brute known only as the Chief (Colman Domingo), who enlists two thuggish ding-dongs to get the suitcase back.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2024
Noun
Bomer is good when Jerry the ding-dong must navigate a moment of real sentiment or complication; the juxtaposition is effective.
—Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
That was a fantastically exciting ding-dong 2-2 — with Atletico missing a 99th penalty and eventually being eliminated from the Champions League after the group stage.
—Dermot Corrigan, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
Not a very productive interrogation … that is until there’s a ding-dong at the door.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2024
Ditch the classic ding-dong and instead opt for a more holiday-appropriate sound, like a howl, a cackling witch, or other creepy sounds.
—Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 27 Sep. 2024
Up on the quite lush chopping block in season three is, appropriately, sibling No. 3, traveling ding-dong Colin.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 16 May 2024
The mess-up puts Jamie and Marian in the crosshairs of a local crime organization headed by a soft-spoken brute known only as the Chief (Colman Domingo), who enlists two thuggish ding-dongs to get the suitcase back.
—Ann Hornaday, Washington Post, 21 Feb. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ding-dong
Noun
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Unfortunately, building massive scale factories here in the US to replace overseas production would be a fool’s errand.—
Robert C. Wolcott,
Forbes.com,
8 Apr. 2025
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After a brief fool’s spring, New York City plunged once again into a cold snap.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
8 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Without this deeper awareness, feedback may unintentionally clash with someone’s cultural expectations.—
Dr. Diane Hamilton,
Forbes.com,
5 Apr. 2025
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But John didn’t see eye to eye with the Bad Boy Records founder, openly clashing with Diddy over creative differences.—
Jami Ganz,
New York Daily News,
4 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Costs nothing, gooses ratings, good TV. Mark Cuban @mcuban.bsky.social · 5h File your taxes using IRS Direct File, a free, secure, accurate and accessible product from the IRS.—
Bluesky Social,
Bluesky Social,
31 Mar. 2025
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Not anymore, not since the cost of eggs has soared beyond the price of the golden ones that a certain goose once laid.—
Lincoln Anderson,
New York Daily News,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Men dressed as 1880s gunfighters are forever clomping up and down wooden sidewalks with jingling spurs and holstered revolvers on their belts.—
Richard Grant,
Smithsonian Magazine,
31 Mar. 2025
-
The first half of the instrumental sounds like wind chimes jingling around in a storm.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Each application requires the card issuer or lender to pull your credit report, which results in a hard inquiry on your report and dings your credit score a few points.—
Dan Avery,
CNBC,
11 Mar. 2025
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Splitting carries with Kareem Hunt dings Pacheco’s fantasy value.—
Bill Reinhard,
New York Daily News,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Roasted tomatoes and halved gooseberries nestle in a pool of kefir and roasted kale oil; avocado wedges rolled in roasted seeds and nuts are separated by sorrel leaves; pea tips and tendrils garnish a stack of fried cheese dumplings.—
Garrett Snyder,
Los Angeles Magazine,
18 July 2017
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A maker of nutrition and protein bars sold at Publix, CVS, Walgreens and other stores and online outlets nationwide recalled three types of bars after hearing about nut allergy reactions.—
David J. Neal,
miamiherald,
6 July 2017
Verb
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Shaking the capsules produces audio signals that range from rattling stones, over tinkling coins to swooshing sand.—
Erico Guizzo,
IEEE Spectrum,
5 Oct. 2018
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Jeff Goldblum tinkled the ivories during a moving In Memoriam section at the BAFTA Film Awards.—
Jake Kanter,
Deadline,
16 Feb. 2025
Verb
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First, David Pastrnak set up Geekie for a one-timer but, with much of the net at which to shoot, Geekie clanged the near post.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
21 Mar. 2025
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Sam Hauser had a chance to extend that lead moments later after Tatum stole a pass and sprung him for a fast break, but his wide-open dunk attack clanged off the rim.—
Zack Cox,
Boston Herald,
19 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ding-dong.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ding-dong. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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