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gagged; gagging
gagger
noun
Synonyms
Verb
Noun
Example Sentences
Verb
The government is trying to gag the press.
the terrible smell of rotting fish made me gag
Noun
The movie relies on simpleminded gags for laughs.
They hid his clothes as a gag.
They tied up the hostages and put gags in their mouths.
The government is trying to put a gag on the press.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2023
On Christmas Eve, the royal family exchanges gag gifts in the early evening and attends church services on Christmas morning.
—Emily Burack, Town & Country, 25 Dec. 2022
This leads Martin to pour an entire glass of water directly into his cohort’s mouth, causing Short to gag.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Dec. 2022
On real-estate TV, brokers and buyers wince and gag over dark cabinets and high-shine brass light fixtures and white appliances, all relics of trends past.
—Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 18 Nov. 2022
Led by a notoriously anti-Bolsonaro judge, Alexandre de Moraes, the TSE has grabbed extraordinary powers and is using them to gag Lula critics.
—Mary Anastasia O’grady, WSJ, 23 Oct. 2022
In Italy, as, increasingly, defamation charges are being used to gag the press.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Nov. 2022
In a move befitting a goddamn movie star, Pugh will chopper fly in to Venice just in time to gag everyone on the red carpet.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 4 Sep. 2022
NDAs have also been used in more sinister circumstances to gag victims of harassment and abuse from speaking out about their experiences.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 11 July 2022
Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 19 Jan. 2023
Can't Hardly Wait is a party scene, and it's got romantic scenes that are (for the most part) not gag-worthy.
—Milan Polk, Men's Health, 11 Jan. 2023
Carmichael even at one point brought up Tom Cruise returning his Golden Globes, which was in protest of the HFPA, but the gag was at Cruise's expense.
—Brendan Morrow, The Week, 11 Jan. 2023
The gag is that Adidas had given permission to use the four stripes over ten years ago.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 7 Jan. 2023
As soon as the siblings were taken into custody, an internet rumor spread that Andrew had given away their location with the pizza gag, since the boxes were clearly from Jerry’s Pizza — a Romanian brand with more than 20 restaurants.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 30 Dec. 2022
And just like the original Thrones, viewers will find plenty of gag-inducing gross-outs, horrific deaths, and ill-begotten relationships along the way.
—Marah Eakin, WIRED, 28 Dec. 2022
To many, the gag seemed distracting; Kimmel took the hint and apologized to Brunson on his show later that week.
—BostonGlobe.com, 27 Dec. 2022
Go back to the first wave of his fame, and to the gag that ran through his drollest roles.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2022
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Verb
Now imagine these items being covered in microscopic fecal matter and just try not to gag.
—Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Jan. 2023
On Christmas Eve, the royal family exchanges gag gifts in the early evening and attends church services on Christmas morning.
—Emily Burack, Town & Country, 25 Dec. 2022
This leads Martin to pour an entire glass of water directly into his cohort’s mouth, causing Short to gag.
—Ryan Gajewski, The Hollywood Reporter, 7 Dec. 2022
On real-estate TV, brokers and buyers wince and gag over dark cabinets and high-shine brass light fixtures and white appliances, all relics of trends past.
—Amanda Mull, The Atlantic, 18 Nov. 2022
Led by a notoriously anti-Bolsonaro judge, Alexandre de Moraes, the TSE has grabbed extraordinary powers and is using them to gag Lula critics.
—Mary Anastasia O’grady, WSJ, 23 Oct. 2022
In Italy, as, increasingly, defamation charges are being used to gag the press.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 Nov. 2022
In a move befitting a goddamn movie star, Pugh will chopper fly in to Venice just in time to gag everyone on the red carpet.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 4 Sep. 2022
NDAs have also been used in more sinister circumstances to gag victims of harassment and abuse from speaking out about their experiences.
—K.j. Yossman, Variety, 11 July 2022
Noun
The gag was thought of by Sorrentino who spoofs himself with biting irony.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 19 Jan. 2023
Can't Hardly Wait is a party scene, and it's got romantic scenes that are (for the most part) not gag-worthy.
—Milan Polk, Men's Health, 11 Jan. 2023
Carmichael even at one point brought up Tom Cruise returning his Golden Globes, which was in protest of the HFPA, but the gag was at Cruise's expense.
—Brendan Morrow, The Week, 11 Jan. 2023
The gag is that Adidas had given permission to use the four stripes over ten years ago.
—Kerane Marcellus, Essence, 7 Jan. 2023
As soon as the siblings were taken into custody, an internet rumor spread that Andrew had given away their location with the pizza gag, since the boxes were clearly from Jerry’s Pizza — a Romanian brand with more than 20 restaurants.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 30 Dec. 2022
And just like the original Thrones, viewers will find plenty of gag-inducing gross-outs, horrific deaths, and ill-begotten relationships along the way.
—Marah Eakin, WIRED, 28 Dec. 2022
To many, the gag seemed distracting; Kimmel took the hint and apologized to Brunson on his show later that week.
—BostonGlobe.com, 27 Dec. 2022
Go back to the first wave of his fame, and to the gag that ran through his drollest roles.
—Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2022
See More
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gag.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English gaggen "to strangle," of imitative origin
Noun
derivative of gag entry 1
First Known Use
Verb
1509, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a
Noun
1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing gag
Articles Related to gag
Dictionary Entries Near gag
Cite this Entry
“Gag.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gag. Accessed 31 Jan. 2023.
More from Merriam-Webster on gag
Nglish: Translation of gag for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of gag for Arabic Speakers
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