as in flap
a quick jerky movement from side to side or up and down
the dog gave its tail a single wag before it flopped back down
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in comedian
a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor
some wag wrote a droll satire on the scandal for the newspaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to flap
to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions
the cat's tail wagged back and forth in annoyance
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to gossip
to relate sometimes questionable or secret information of a personal nature
tongues will wag as soon as word of the house's selling price gets around
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wag
Dawn Kovell, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
Can anyone read that much Tynan without adopting his native tongue wag?
—Stephen Colbert, New Yorker, 18 July 2025
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
From metallic sparkle bandanas to adventure-ready harnesses and travel crates, this collection has everything your pet needs to keep their tails wagging and paws moving in style.
—Jessica Moore, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wag
Noun
The placement of the tail, the type of the wag and the overall body posture need to be considered.
—Dawn Kovell, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
Can anyone read that much Tynan without adopting his native tongue wag?
—Stephen Colbert, New Yorker, 18 July 2025
Verb
The dog's tail began wagging rapidly.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
From metallic sparkle bandanas to adventure-ready harnesses and travel crates, this collection has everything your pet needs to keep their tails wagging and paws moving in style.
—Jessica Moore, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wag
Verb
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In the canonical metaphorical example, a butterfly flaps its wings in Brazil, and the cascading sequence of atmospheric perturbations leads to a tornado in Texas.—
Dan Garisto,
Scientific American,
22 Oct. 2025
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Moments later, the monarch began to flap its wings and crawl onto Bendicksen’s hand.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Sophia keeps her Instagram private but started opening up more on TikTok in 2025, including sharing a fun video about gossiping with her mom.—
Emy LaCroix,
PEOPLE,
20 Oct. 2025
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Shopkeepers lightheartedly gossip in rich drawling accents, and pickup trucks make up the majority of the vehicles idling at one of the few stoplights in town.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
13 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In the clip, Lecaillier cuts, tapes and shapes her materials until a wonderfully bonkers ostrich begins to take form — complete with flapping wings and a bobbing neck made from little more than determination and a sense of humor.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
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There is a chili style for everyone — it can be adapted for carnivores or vegetarians, brimming with beans or bobbing with chunky vegetables.—
Lynda Balslev,
Mercury News,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Like a true professional, the actor quickly flicks the photo and extinguishes the blaze without ever breaking character — despite internally freaking out — to nail the perfect shot.—
Sydney Bucksbaum,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Oct. 2025
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Kravitz's new cut couldn't be fresher, with blunt, flicked out ends that barely reach below her ears.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Connor called 911 for help, and authorities tried to locate Mallory while also talking to the rest of the friends about what happened.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
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Her focus is less on the reason for the decline than on the question of why people—even close family members—stopped talking with one another.—
Alex Kotlowitz,
The Atlantic,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The earthquake shook at a depth of just 4 miles, with its epicenter roughly 9 miles west of Johannesburg.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
26 Oct. 2025
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Nearly two years later, there’s still evidence at the crime scene that shook this small island country — ash on jutting rocks, melted scraps of plastic and fabric scattered in the verdant shrubbery where wild dogs stalk giant lizards.—
Brenna Ehrlich,
Rolling Stone,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Her hand twitched from the heat.—
Zuzana Říhová,
Literary Hub,
26 Sep. 2025
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Any dairy farmer can tell you that biting flies are a pestilent scourge for cattle herds, which is why one so often sees cows throwing their heads, stamping their feet, flicking their tails, and twitching their skin—desperately trying to shake off the nasty creatures.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Kyiv's forces were working to expand their long-range strikes inside Russia, with their sights set on oil refineries, the pumping heart of Moscow's war economy.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
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The second, Lisa Pisano, received a mechanical heart pump in addition to the pig kidney in April 2024.—
Jen Christensen,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wag. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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