1
as in signal
an object intended to give public notice or warning the tocsin rang out, warning us of the approaching tornado

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2
as in warning
something that tells of approaching danger or risk noted that a sudden drop in a student's grades may be a tocsin of a serious personal problem

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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 tocsin Singer Building housed a sewing-machine company, but its slender campanile might have served to ring tocsins or watch for approaching armies. Justin Davidson, Curbed, 3 Aug. 2023 The Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Hudson Institute, and AEI have all been sounding the tocsin about Iran for decades. Jacob Heilbrunn, The New Republic, 23 Jan. 2020
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tocsin
Noun
  • Among the methods being examined: Using radio signals to jam drones or force them to land.
    JOSH FUNK, Arkansas Online, 8 June 2025
  • Imagine your leadership team is waiting for a market signal that never arrives, clinging to a strategic plan that no longer aligns with reality, or ignoring new data out of loyalty to the original vision.
    Brent Gleeson, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025
Noun
  • The orders were later reduced to warnings, and the last of the warnings was lifted about 8:30 p.m. Sunday.
    David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 June 2025
  • If passed into law, the bill would require warnings on the ATMs before the user could do a transaction.
    Steve Weisman, Forbes.com, 1 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Tocsin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tocsin. Accessed 17 Jun. 2025.

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