flag-waving

noun

flag-wav·​ing ˈflag-ˌwā-viŋ 

: excessively passionate appeal to patriotic or partisan sentiment : chauvinism

an article that was nothing more than flag-waving

—often used before another noun

flag-waving rhetoric

Examples of flag-waving in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The 21-year-old is already the most successful Filipino tennis player in history, and her popularity among flag-waving fans has been evident all week. — Bailey Johnson, Washington Post, 2 Aug. 2026

For a time, organizers and others thought America 250 might be that galvanizing, flag-waving force. — Jonathan Lemire, The Atlantic, 7 July 2026

Some organizers say America's complicated, and at times difficult, history is being glossed over by fireworks and flag-waving ‒ or that it's being politicized by an administration that has actively worked to advance its version of history. — Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 26 June 2026

Hundreds — maybe thousands — of kilt-wearing, bagpipe-playing, flag-waving, fun-loving Scotland fans descended on South Beach after a day of salsa dancing on Calle Ocho and cheering on the Marlins at loanDepot Park. — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 23 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for flag-waving

• behaving
• engraving
• enslaving
• lifesaving
• repaving
• autoclaving
• misbehaving
• braving
• caving
• craving
• graving
• laving