wad

noun

\ ˈwäd

Definition of wad

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a small mass, bundle, or tuft: such as

a : a soft mass especially of a loose fibrous material variously used (as to stop an aperture, pad a garment, or hold grease around an axle)

b(1) : a soft plug used to retain a powder charge or to avoid windage especially in a muzzle-loading gun

(2) : a felt or paper disk used to separate the components of a shotgun cartridge

c : a small mass of a chewing substance a wad of gum

2 : a considerable amount (as of money)

3a : a roll of paper money

b : money

wad

verb

wadded; wadding

Definition of wad (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a : to insert a wad into wad a gun

b : to hold in by a wad wad a bullet in a gun

2 : to form into a wad or wadding especially : to roll or crush into a tight wad

3 : to stuff or line with some soft substance

Other Words from wad Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about wad

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Examples of wad in a Sentence

Noun

He spent a wad on clothes. a starlet who usually gets a big wad of publicity for her nonstop antics

Verb

disgusted, she wadded up the paper and threw it in the wastebasket

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

If your pet acquires a taste for trees (either real or fake), enough needles can form a wad in the GI tract and cause an obstruction. — Caroline Picard, Good Housekeeping, "5 Holiday Plants That Are Way More Toxic Than Poinsettias to Cats and Dogs," 14 Dec. 2018 One such ad depicts Kim Schrier, a Democrat running in Washington's 8th District, with a wad of $20 bills fanned out in her hands. — Eli Rosenberg, The Seattle Times, "Republicans attack Jewish candidates, including Kim Schrier, with an age-old caricature: fistfuls of cash," 6 Nov. 2018 Baseball players have shoved sticky pink wads into their mouths for time immemorial, particularly as a way to replace—or cover up—their nasty tobacco habits. — Jared Diamond, WSJ, "Eugenio Suarez Can Run, Hit, Throw and Chew Gum at the Same Time," 2 Aug. 2018 According to The Daily Mirror, Bielsa will now be handed a significant wad of cash in order to convert the former Champions League semi-finalists back into genuine promotion contenders. — SI.com, "New Leeds Boss Marcelo Bielsa Set for Huge £20m Transfer Budget in Attempt to Secure Promotion Push," 16 June 2018 After searching the vehicle, the task force found 160 bags of heroin, over 15 grams of crack cocaine and a wad of cash. — Ruth Bruno, courant.com, "Manchester Police Arrest Men In Drug Bust; One With History Of Similar Arrests," 13 June 2018 Thug, on the other hand, wears a simple yellow hoodie offset with layers of lustrous pearls and a wad of cash sticking out of his silver purse. — Rachel Hahn, Vogue, "Young Thug and Lil Uzi Vert Show Off Their Pearls and Chanel Bags—With Rosé in Hand, of Course," 14 May 2018 Companies use Zaad for their monthly payrolls, instead of handing wads of cash to their employees. — Matina Stevis-gridneff, WSJ, "An Isolated Country Runs on Mobile Money," 8 July 2018 Just three regular Twinkies torn into random fried wads and drizzled with flavored syrup. — Mike Sutter, San Antonio Express-News, "Review: Get the South out of your mouth at Hoppin’ John," 5 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wad.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.