tin·sel
ˈtin(t)-səl 
also ˈtin-zəl
1
: threads, strips, or sheets of metal, paper, or plastic used to produce a glittering and sparkling appearance in fabrics, yarns, or decorations
2
: something superficially attractive or glamorous but of little real worth
disfigured by no gaudy tinsel of rhetoric or declamation—
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson1
: made of or covered with tinsel
2
a
: cheaply gaudy : tawdry
b
: specious, superficial
tinsel promises
tinseled or tinselled; tinseling or tinselling
ˈtin(t)-s(ə-)liŋ
also ˈtin-zə-liŋ
1
: to interweave, overlay, or adorn with or as if with tinsel
2
: to impart a specious brightness to
Examples of tinsel in a Sentence
Noun
I like to decorate the Christmas tree with tinsel.
He's not attracted to the tinsel and glitter of Hollywood.
Recent Examples on the WebFrankie Adkins, WIRED, 10 Apr. 2024
Part Two premiere in N.Y.C. 13 of 19 America Ferrera
America Ferrera brought polka dots to life with this fun halter-neck dress speckled with round 3D tinsel adornments.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 26 Feb. 2024
The chic modern retailer has tiny tinsel options, flocked alpines, curvy cypresses, stately Blue Spruce, and many more in a variety of heights ranging from tabletop to 8 feet.
—Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2023
The tinsel hits the fan as revelry gives way to finger-pointing while devout Episcopalians Bill (Dan Hiatt) and Ginny (Luisa Sermol) welcome home their four adult children, lost souls all.
—Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 2 Feb. 2024
These green tinsel stems are decked in red berries and—for a signature touch—a few black and white check berries, too.
—Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2023
According to the pet poison helpline, tinsel (as well as ribbons, yarn, and anything stringy) can cause severe damage to your pet's intestines if swallowed.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 19 Dec. 2023
Depending on the light, the blue tinsel pattern almost blends in.
—Sean Hollister, The Verge, 21 Feb. 2024
Dazzle himself wears a cascading green A-line tinsel dress, which appears to fall out of a red plastic cup worn on his head—a reference to an important vomiting experience (beware of alcoholic slushies) in one of Mac’s songs.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2024
EW.com, 1 Nov. 2023
The historic corridor running up Manhattan’s skirt is decked with balsam fir branches, weighted with tinsel, golden baubles, and pine cones.
—Abe Beame, Essence, 20 Dec. 2023
Among the potential hazards are tinsel on trees, as well as ribbons and string used for wrapping packages.
—Amy McGorry, Fox News, 25 Nov. 2023
Charles Desmarais, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Mar. 2018
And while my beard has tinseled, the intervening years haven’t exactly been kind to Rome either.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 1 June 2017
Noun
If an Asian hornet lands, volunteers attach tinsel streamers to its back to monitor its flight path and trace it back to its nest.
—Frankie Adkins, WIRED, 10 Apr. 2024
Part Two premiere in N.Y.C. 13 of 19 America Ferrera
America Ferrera brought polka dots to life with this fun halter-neck dress speckled with round 3D tinsel adornments.
—Michelle Lee, Peoplemag, 26 Feb. 2024
The chic modern retailer has tiny tinsel options, flocked alpines, curvy cypresses, stately Blue Spruce, and many more in a variety of heights ranging from tabletop to 8 feet.
—Carrie Honaker, Southern Living, 26 Oct. 2023
The tinsel hits the fan as revelry gives way to finger-pointing while devout Episcopalians Bill (Dan Hiatt) and Ginny (Luisa Sermol) welcome home their four adult children, lost souls all.
—Karen D'souza, The Mercury News, 2 Feb. 2024
These green tinsel stems are decked in red berries and—for a signature touch—a few black and white check berries, too.
—Gabriela Izquierdo, Southern Living, 28 Dec. 2023
According to the pet poison helpline, tinsel (as well as ribbons, yarn, and anything stringy) can cause severe damage to your pet's intestines if swallowed.
—Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 19 Dec. 2023
Depending on the light, the blue tinsel pattern almost blends in.
—Sean Hollister, The Verge, 21 Feb. 2024
Dazzle himself wears a cascading green A-line tinsel dress, which appears to fall out of a red plastic cup worn on his head—a reference to an important vomiting experience (beware of alcoholic slushies) in one of Mac’s songs.
—Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2024
Adjective
In another image where wearing a tinsel Christmas outfit with a star (above).
—EW.com, 1 Nov. 2023
The historic corridor running up Manhattan’s skirt is decked with balsam fir branches, weighted with tinsel, golden baubles, and pine cones.
—Abe Beame, Essence, 20 Dec. 2023
Among the potential hazards are tinsel on trees, as well as ribbons and string used for wrapping packages.
—Amy McGorry, Fox News, 25 Nov. 2023
Verb
Connor’s new prints, on the other hand, made by the industrial dye-sublimation process on aluminum, are but tinseled imitations of her own extraordinary originals.
—Charles Desmarais, San Francisco Chronicle, 8 Mar. 2018
And while my beard has tinseled, the intervening years haven’t exactly been kind to Rome either.
—Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 1 June 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'tinsel.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English tyneseyle cloth interwoven with metallic thread, probably from Anglo-French tencelé, past participle of tenceler, estenceler to sparkle — more at stencil
Dictionary Entries Near tinsel
Cite this Entry
“Tinsel.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tinsel. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
tinsel
noun
tin·sel
ˈtin(t)-səl
1
: a thread, strip, or sheet of metal, paper, or plastic used to produce a glittering effect
2
: something that seems attractive but is of little worth
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