tinny

/ˈtɪni/

Other forms: tinnily; tinniest; tinnier

If something is tinny, it sounds weak and a little metallic. Music played on an old-fashioned transistor radio would sound tinny compared to a fancy new stereo.

Tinny sounds are vaguely unpleasant, and tinny objects are poorly constructed, of cheap metal. You'll have more fun cooking in a heavy cast iron skillet than a thin, tinny pan. You could say that tinny things either sound like tin being struck with a spoon or appear to be made from tin. And if something tastes tinny, you can detect a metallic flavor in it.

Definitions of tinny

1. adjective

   thin and metallic in sound; lacking resonance
   “an unpleasant tinny voice”

   synonyms:

   metal, metallic

   containing or made of or resembling or characteristic of a metal
2. adjective

   of very poor quality; flimsy
   synonyms: bum, cheap, cheesy, chintzy, crummy, punk, sleazy

   inferior

   of low or inferior quality
3. adjective

   of or containing tin