zinger

noun

zing·​er ˈziŋ-ər How to pronounce zinger (audio)
Synonyms of zingernext
1
: something causing or meant to cause interest, surprise, or shock
2
: a pointed witty remark or retort

Examples of zinger in a Sentence

The candidate couldn't help getting off a zinger or two about his opponent.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Our minds generate sharp retorts or zingers that would eviscerate or humiliate them. — Dr. Joel M. Rothaizer, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2026 No One Wish Willow zinger here, but long 135-page filing short, Darby says Tea Shop Productions‘ James Harris and Mark Lane were playing her for a while, and the Inde Navarrette– and Michael Johnston-starring Obsession simply proved the final straw. — Dominic Patten, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2026 Amid pratfalls and slapstick high jinks, Curry conducts his costars in a symphony of chaos, and rattles off zinger after zinger while also conveying the plot and ultimately the denouement in his machine-gun line readings. — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 Better make sure those interview questions are properly researched and up to snuff — or else there could be some real zingers flying in from the interviewee. — Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for zinger

Word History

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of zinger was in 1955

Rhymes for zinger

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Browse Nearby Words

zingel
zinger
zingerone
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Zinger.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/zinger. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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