waddle

1 of 2

verb

wad·​dle ˈwä-dᵊl How to pronounce waddle (audio)
waddled; waddling
ˈwäd-liŋ
ˈwä-dᵊl-iŋ How to pronounce waddle (audio)
Synonyms of waddlenext

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 How to pronounce waddle (audio)
noun

waddle

2 of 2

noun

: an awkward clumsy swaying gait

Examples of waddle in a Sentence

Verb He waddled down the hallway. A fat goose waddled across the yard.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
When temperatures dropped below 30 degrees this month, the penguins waddled to warmth by going to their indoor enclosure. Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026 One solitary penguin rejects the breeding and feeding grounds of his fellow birds, and waddles toward icy mountains in the distance, undoubtedly to its death. Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Noun
In this case, the suit appears to be a little unweildy, forcing wearers to adopt a sort of waddle to move. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 31 Jan. 2026 Twice a day, seven days a week, the famous fowl waddle single file through the lobby. Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for waddle

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of waddle was in 1592

Cite this Entry

“Waddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/waddle. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

waddle

1 of 2 verb
wad·​dle ˈwäd-ᵊl How to pronounce waddle (audio)
waddled; waddling ˈwäd-liŋ How to pronounce waddle (audio)
-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 How to pronounce waddle (audio)
-ᵊl-ər
noun

waddle

2 of 2 noun
: an awkward swaying walk

More from Merriam-Webster on waddle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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