tocsin

noun

ˈtäk-sən How to pronounce tocsin (audio)
Definition of tocsinnext
1
as in signal
an object intended to give public notice or warning the tocsin rang out, warning us of the approaching tornado

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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
  1. signal
  2. warning
Noun
  • Under the deal, Visa will get BioCatch's behavioral biometrics platform, which analyzes data including keystroke timing, touch screen pressure and other signals to distinguish real users from scammers and bots.
    — Hugh Son, CNBC, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Bautista’s casting signals a possible different approach to the character of Kratos, which has been the subject of intense online discourse following the first-look image released in February.
    — Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of signal
Noun
  • Importantly, such forecasts give countries early warning of heat waves, droughts, floods and potential disruptions to food supplies, among other outcomes.
    — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 4 Aug. 2026
  • Delivery of extreme heat warnings by text message, robocall, email, social media and Notify ATL, the city’s emergency mass notification system.
    — Drew Kann, AJC.com, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of warning

Browse Nearby Words

to come
tocsin
tocsins
See all Nearby Words

Podcast

Theme music by Joshua Stamper ©2006 New Jerusalem Music/ASCAP

Cite this Entry

“Tocsin.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tocsin. Accessed 6 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of torpor

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

Why does English have so many silent letters?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

How long is a jiffy?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

The Longest Long Words List

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All