waddle

1 of 2

verb

wad·​dle ˈwä-dᵊl 

waddled; waddling

ˈwäd-liŋ,

ˈwä-dᵊl-iŋ 

intransitive verb

1

: to walk with short steps swinging the forepart of the body from side to side

2

: to move clumsily in a manner suggesting a waddle

waddler

ˈwäd-lər

ˈwä-dᵊl-ər 

noun

waddle

2 of 2

noun

: an awkward clumsy swaying gait

Synonyms

Verb

• careen
• dodder
• lurch
• reel
• stagger
• teeter
• totter

Examples of waddle in a Sentence

Verb

He waddled down the hallway.

A fat goose waddled across the yard.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Luxembourg’s 1980 submission featured singing sisters Sophie and Magaly in bright, triangular tuxedo suits that predate Klaus Nomi’s similar fashion, accompanied by a tall man who waddles around onstage in a large sequin penguin costume (the backup singers were in penguin sequins, too). —Nick Allen, Vulture, 13 May 2025

Both teams have been mostly waddling at the ninth and tenth spot of the West since their trades. —Kambui Bomani, Forbes.com, 14 Apr. 2025

Noun

Here are four remarkable flightless birds that have evaded extinction – and continue to walk, run, or waddle across our planet today. —Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025

In children, this can cause a waddle, and in adults, a shuffle. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 5 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

frequentative of wade

First Known Use

Verb

1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1691, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for waddle

• caudal
• caudle
• dawdle
• model
• twaddle
• remodel

Kids Definition

waddle

1 of 2 verb

wad·​dle ˈwäd-ᵊl 

waddled; waddling ˈwäd-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to walk with short steps swaying from side to side

ducks waddling to the water

2

: to move slowly and awkwardly

the big boat waddled upstream

waddler

-lər 

-ᵊl-ər

noun

waddle

2 of 2 noun

: an awkward swaying walk