adj

tinny

TIH-nee

Tinny (adj) means sounding thin, harsh, and metallic, as if coming from a cheap speaker. Example: “The music blared out of the phone speaker sounding tinny and flat.”

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adj

Sounding thin, harsh, and metallic, as if coming from a cheap speaker.

"The music blared out of the phone speaker sounding tinny and flat."

Resembling cheap tin rather than a sturdier metal; flimsy.

"The toy car felt tinny and light in his hand."

How to use tinny

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThin and metallic-sounding, or cheaply made like tin.

Common pairings

tinny sound tinny speaker tinny voice

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Word forms

tinnier comparative, more tinny comparative, tinniest superlative, most tinny superlative

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The music blared out of the phone speaker sounding _____ and flat.

Etymology

Formed from tin plus the adjective-forming suffix -y.

Rhymes for tinny

Ginny ninny vinny Jinny skinny whinny

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Frequently asked questions

What does “tinny” mean?

The word “tinny” means sounding thin, harsh, and metallic, as if coming from a cheap speaker. In plain terms, thin and metallic-sounding, or cheaply made like tin.

How do you pronounce “tinny”?

“Tinny” is pronounced TIH-nee (/ˈtɪni/ in IPA).

How do you use “tinny” in a sentence?

Here is “tinny” used in a sentence: “The music blared out of the phone speaker sounding tinny and flat.”

What part of speech is “tinny”?

“Tinny” is an adjective.

How many meanings does “tinny” have?

“Tinny” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: sounding thin, harsh, and metallic, as if coming from a cheap speaker.