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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Example Sentences
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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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True leaders are known for building things, fools for destroying them.—
Tom Zirpoli,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Apr. 2025
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The mix of Greek mythology, robots and mechanical flying scorpions is a little all over the place, but my son was plenty entertained by Scooby and Shaggy’s ability to act like bumbling fools one minute and brave heroes the next.—
Dina Gachman,
New York Times,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Moscow's rejection of all U.S. proposals that do not concede to its demands like government change, demilitarization, and territorial concessions, clash with warnings by Rubio and Trump that the U.S. could walk away if there is no progress and suggest an end to hostilities is not imminent.—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Apr. 2025
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According to Mike Coppinger of The Ring Magazine, Paul will clash with Chavez Jr.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
18 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
It’s not known what caused the goose to leave Wrigley.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2025
-
For one thing, the methods for growing and manipulating the embryonic precursors of avian sperm and eggs in a lab setting have been developed for only two birds: the chicken and, recently, the goose.—
D. T. Max,
New Yorker,
7 Apr. 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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But this time, his front-right tire was slow to come off, seemingly as the wheel gun did not connect with the wheel nut on the first attempt.—
Luke Smith,
New York Times,
13 Apr. 2025
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Americans are advised to eat more fruits and vegetables, include a variety of protein sources—seafood, lean meats, poultry, eggs, legumes, soy products, and unsalted nuts/seeds—and opt for protein sources lower in solid fats and calories.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Apr. 2025
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 24 Apr. 2025.
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