as in flap
a quick jerky movement from side to side or up and down
the dog gave its tail a single wag before it flopped back down
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in comedian
a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor
some wag wrote a droll satire on the scandal for the newspaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to flap
to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions
the cat's tail wagged back and forth in annoyance
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to gossip
to relate sometimes questionable or secret information of a personal nature
tongues will wag as soon as word of the house's selling price gets around
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wag
Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2025
Shakespeare’s world-weary wags spoke truth to King Lear and other royals, while the heyoka, the holy fool of many Sioux tribes, inverted day-to-day logic to provoke healing laughter.
—Michael Snyder, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 30 July 2025
The little dog waited with me by the gate, wagging her tail gently.
—Literary Hub, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for wag
Noun
Our portion of the state was so ignored that some of the local wags were calling for a new state called Forgottonia.
—Chicago Tribune, 25 Apr. 2025
Shakespeare’s world-weary wags spoke truth to King Lear and other royals, while the heyoka, the holy fool of many Sioux tribes, inverted day-to-day logic to provoke healing laughter.
—Michael Snyder, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2025
Verb
The Republican senator wagged his finger at the woke community, chastising their outrage in a social media post that also included an image of a topless Sweeney in the American Eagle jeans at the center of the controversial ad.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 30 July 2025
The little dog waited with me by the gate, wagging her tail gently.
—Literary Hub, 29 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for wag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wag
Verb
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The researchers found that condors flap their wings for less than 1% of their total flight time, with one bird covering over 100 miles in a single stretch without flapping at all.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
27 July 2025
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The management posted a notice forbidding all persons wearing mules to use the escalator as the flapping soles might get caught in the steps.—
Eileen Chang,
Harpers Magazine,
18 June 2025
Verb
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A couple is having their pre-show Manhattans; a group of friends is gossiping over martinis and shrimp cocktail.—
Paul Brady,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Aug. 2025
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Through her previous roles in marketing and HR, Mallick experienced a wide range of toxic boss behavior, not limited to yelling, micromanaging, gossiping, taking credit for others’ work and napping through meetings.—
Sophie Caldwell,
CNBC,
11 July 2025
Verb
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The glittering Riviera glints with coastal glamour—here, sunbathers recline on pebbled beaches, yachts bob in turquoise harbors, and rosé flows beneath striped parasols.—
Lewis Nunn,
Forbes.com,
14 Aug. 2025
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Two paragliders bobbed from updraft to updraft in an effort to fly up the Baltoro Glacier to K2.—
Nick Paumgarten,
New Yorker,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
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These teen flicks graduated with high honors in our eyes.—
Michelle Kung,
EW.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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They were also seen flicking it up in her car outside of the spot.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
1 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In West African traditions, the drum serves as both a musical instrument and a talking messenger, transmitting proverbs, praises, and official announcements in a language that reinforces the chief’s authority and the community’s history.—
Felicia Appenteng,
semafor.com,
18 Aug. 2025
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Throughout a second year of OTAs, minicamp and training camp, Daniels has done even more of that with his receivers and tight ends, talking to second-year tight end Ben Sinnott about a blitz pickup or to the veteran Samuel about the timing on his deep ball.—
Nicki Jhabvala,
New York Times,
18 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Structure information summary Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
21 Aug. 2025
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In Ghana, the impact of rapid urbanization is shaking once-rural localities.—
Taeya Boi-Doku,
JSTOR Daily,
21 Aug. 2025
Verb
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And according to researchers at the University of British Columbia, the part of the brainstem involved in the control of sleep cycles is underdeveloped in puppies, leading them to act out their dreams with twitching and growling more often.—
Rachael O'Connor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Aug. 2025
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Some devices, for example, track eye movements or other small muscle twitches to let users select words from a screen.—
Emma R. Hasson,
Scientific American,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Ukraine is focusing drone attacks on refineries, pumping stations and fuel trains in an effort to hurt the Russian war machine - but also to disrupt daily life in Russia.—
Tim Lister,
CNN Money,
23 Aug. 2025
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Owners and players must approve any changes, though both will welcome the instant revenue new teams will pump into the game with expansion fees of $2 billion apiece.—
Dan Schlossberg,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wag. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
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