as in to stagger
to move forward while swaying from side to side
the duck waddled back into the water we watched the penguins waddle over the ice together
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waddle
Once all of the ducklings were tucked into the basket, the animals were carried to a nearby canal, with their mother waddling behind them.
—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
Partway up the trail, three penguins waddled past, entirely unbothered by the humans who stepped aside for them, and then belly-slid into the freezing water.
—
Jordi Lippe-McGraw,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
The only telltale sign of what lies below the surface is a metal set of stairs, leading into the icy blue channel, and small groups of divers and snorkelers waddling across the gravel paths in full gear.
—
Carinne Geil Botta,
Travel + Leisure,
16 May 2026
When not flapping their wings, the chicks waddle around the nest, finding shady spots and playing with sticks and their dad's tail, the nonprofit said.
—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for waddle
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
28 May 2026
Partway up the trail, three penguins waddled past, entirely unbothered by the humans who stepped aside for them, and then belly-slid into the freezing water.
—
Jordi Lippe-McGraw,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
The only telltale sign of what lies below the surface is a metal set of stairs, leading into the icy blue channel, and small groups of divers and snorkelers waddling across the gravel paths in full gear.
—
Carinne Geil Botta,
Travel + Leisure,
16 May 2026
When not flapping their wings, the chicks waddle around the nest, finding shady spots and playing with sticks and their dad's tail, the nonprofit said.
—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
12 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for waddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waddle
Verb
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Steely and deliberate songwriting that casually staggers down the line between rhythm and melody, laced with loose yet conscious jams.
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To ensure Miami 305 can still meet the league's minimum roster requirements, the suspensions will be staggered.
Verb
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The old guard of the Democratic Party suffered another body blow when three socialist congressional candidates in New York with anti-Israel platforms swept to victory, lurching the party even further to the left.
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Initial data indicates both of these earthquakes were strike-slip, Magnani said, meaning one plate lurched past the other along the boundary.
Verb
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With how rapidly healthcare organizations are relying on AI applications, data federation and new tools that are being intricately weaved through core data streams, the number of cybersecurity incidents is sure to increase in the coming decade.
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Alongside Chase and her family stands film director Guy Ritchie; not as a badge‑on celebrity, but as a creative collaborator who has invested both capital and time in the project, designing the Wild Kitchen feasting tables and quietly weaving the whisky into his storytelling world.
Verb
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In an accompanying cartoon, Spark is caricatured as a sulking giant, tottering above the Tuscan countryside in a pair of high heels.
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Among them a City boy wearing three Fit-Bit-type devices, two beautiful Middle Eastern sisters, an outrageously pompous elderly American (sorry; eavesdropping), and several Imelda Marcos lookalikes, tottering out of the treatment rooms with, somehow, their elaborate hairstyles still intact.
Verb
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The company has since shuffled several leaders, including naming a new human resources chief and the company’s first chief digital officer.
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The assistant shuffled to one side and the scene reset.
Cite this Entry
“Waddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waddle. Accessed 1 Jul. 2026.
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