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
Verb
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
-
For a woman who devotes herself to God is a mystic, whereas a woman who lusts after a mortal man is a fool.—
Terry Nguyen
July 23,
Literary Hub,
23 July 2025
-
In any greater fool game, the last one is the one who loses most.—
Jim Osman,
Forbes.com,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
Fans also try to tear down fences and clash with police at a Death From Above 1979 reunion show at the Beauty Bar.—
Michael Barnes,
Austin American Statesman,
23 July 2025
-
Chantel’s aggressive, no-nonsense delivery clashed with Jackie’s passive-deflective tone, turning what could’ve been a breakthrough into yet another blow-up.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
Two summers ago, as a group of people used their cars to stop traffic to help a gaggle of 150 to 200 geese cross a road in Henderson, Nevada, a driver went around them and struck at least nine geese, a witness told ABC affiliate KTNV.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
18 July 2025
-
And now that silly goose still out here shaking dat a** for drake every day.—
Jessica Bennett,
VIBE.com,
18 July 2025
Verb
-
Dogs showing signs of separation anxiety may benefit from gradual desensitization to being alone and learning to dissociate cues like jingling keys from being left alone.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 July 2025
-
Some hikers wear small bells that jingle while walking, signaling their presence to animals.—
Ruffin Prevost,
AFAR Media,
18 July 2025
Noun
-
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
-
Botanically the fruit is a drupe, not a nut.—
Kurt Snibbe,
Oc Register,
13 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
La Cañada resident Trent Sanders, who frequently dings California’s liberal politicos in emails to me and my colleagues, thinks Trump is generally on the right track three months into his term, but with a few caveats.—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Apr. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
Just sit back and drink your coffee to the tune of tinkling cowbells across the valley.—
John Oseid,
Forbes.com,
1 July 2025
-
The sound of the water tinkling on the fountain’s bronze statues makes my heart flutter.—
Laura Washington,
Chicago Tribune,
9 July 2025
Noun
-
It’s staffed by robots hosting, indifferently, a fantastic maniac of a dog named … 2.—
Michael Phillips,
Chicago Tribune,
9 July 2025
-
Miguel and Angel were grinning maniacs standing in the middle of the set with their arms around each other’s shoulders, like ballplayers after a winning game surrounded by a circle of glowing fans.—
Helen Schulman,
The Atlantic,
26 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Ding-dong.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ding-dong. Accessed 3 Aug. 2025.
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