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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Holding out hope for Hannah’s return, or Janine’s liberation, or… anything, really, by this point in the Hulu drama’s final run can feel like a fool’s errand.—
Kimberly Roots,
TVLine,
8 Apr. 2025
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That said, sense-making is a fool’s errand in this era.—
Damon Beres,
The Atlantic,
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
-
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
-
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
-
Splitting carries with Kareem Hunt dings Pacheco’s fantasy value.—
Bill Reinhard,
New York Daily News,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
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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
-
Botanically the fruit is a drupe, not a nut.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Shaking the capsules produces audio signals that range from rattling stones, over tinkling coins to swooshing sand.—
Erico Guizzo,
IEEE Spectrum,
5 Oct. 2018
-
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 21 Apr. 2025.
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