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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of wag
Calmatters, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
Behind the fence, his littermates and an older dog wag their tails, seemingly aware of the bittersweet goodbye.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
In a heartwarming moment that the astronaut captured and shared in a video on X, the visibly excited pups — one tan and one chocolate brown — circle her outside of her Houston home, their tails wagging rapidly.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wag
Noun
Local wags in the Tahoe region wryly simplify the options: Go to the end of your driveway and turn right or turn left.
—Calmatters, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
Behind the fence, his littermates and an older dog wag their tails, seemingly aware of the bittersweet goodbye.
—Tommy Tuberville, Newsweek, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
Colin the Janitor crawling down a hallway with his black tongue wagging at a cowering woman, and the true image of hell incarnate, Pyramid Head, literally ripping the skin suit off of live bodies should shake you to your core.
—Jordan Crucchiola, Vulture, 4 Apr. 2025
In a heartwarming moment that the astronaut captured and shared in a video on X, the visibly excited pups — one tan and one chocolate brown — circle her outside of her Houston home, their tails wagging rapidly.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wag
Verb
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The doves in the poignant, almost twenty-five-hundred-year-old sculpture look very much like the pigeons walking and flapping around the museum’s plaza along Fifth Avenue, out front.—
Ian Frazier,
New Yorker,
5 May 2025
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From their Alaskan breeding grounds, the curlews will make an epic migration of at least 2,500 miles to northwestern Hawaii—and some will even flap as far as the South Pacific, tacking an additional 1,250 miles onto their journey.—
Carlyn Kranking,
Smithsonian Magazine,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Ruth is merely acting as Thalia’s puppet, gossiping and fearmongering.—
Lillian Fishman,
New Yorker,
4 May 2025
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For one, Jaclyn finally calls them out for gossiping about her.—
Stephanie McNeal,
Glamour,
24 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Billy is often seen bobbing, pacing and swaying — all signs of brain damage caused by years of captivity, the organization said.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2025
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SpaceX SpaceX crews deployed nearby rushed to the gently bobbing capsule and rigged it for a lift onto the company's recovery ship Shannon.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
4 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Martinez flicks the ball towards Thuram and behind them, Nicolo Barella is ready to receive the lay-off, with De Jong and Pedri occupied by the long pass.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
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Nazar took the Hawks’ first try during the shootout against the Montreal Canadiens and flicked the puck into the upper netting.—
Phil Thompson,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Apr. 2025
Verb
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At private dinners throughout Rome and at formal gatherings of hundreds of cardinals, talk among church leaders of who will next lead the church has certainly already begun.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
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Some professors didn’t understand how to talk with audiences and were criticized for their monotone deliveries.—
Josh Shepperd,
The Conversation,
2 May 2025
Verb
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The duo was also spotted shaking hands at the kickoff of the three-day celebration in another photo.—
Bailey Richards,
People.com,
3 May 2025
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In contrast, Dutton struggled to shake off comparisons to Trump by his opponents, not just because some policies appeared to have been inspired by the US leader.—
Hilary Whiteman and Angus Watson,
CNN Money,
3 May 2025
Verb
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If their tail starts twitching or their ears are flattened, then they may be overstimulated, which can lead to aggression.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
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Real Estate As Ballast Against Market Turbulence Why does Manhattan real estate hold up while other assets twitch?—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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During the 1960s and 1970s, groundwater was pumped from the industrial area of Marghera, on the mainland facing into the lagoon.—
Julia Buckley,
CNN Money,
4 May 2025
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Three members of the Rockefeller family, which has deep roots in New York politics and ranks as one of the wealthiest dynasties in American history, recently pumped $75,000 into a pro-Cuomo super PAC that’s boosting the former governor’s campaign for City Hall, filings released this week show.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wag. Accessed 13 May. 2025.
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