as in swinging
to place on an elevated point without support from below
he dangled the string in front of the cat, hoping that it was in the mood for play
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of dangling
Tori Latham, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2026
Cernan, the junior pilot, was outside, dangling—actually spinning, tumbling, and flailing—at the end of a long umbilical cord, completely unable to control his movements.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 11 Nov. 2025
Naru aside, Killer of Killers and Badlands have left a few dangling story threads.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Sennecke led a two-on-one rush, dangling and dragging his way to the net to create a tap-in for Kreider.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026
That’s the problem with dangling participles and misplaced modifiers.
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
According to Textron Systems, the loitering munition, ominously named after the Damocles of the Ancient Greek parable of the dangling sword, enables top-attack capabilities with its VTOL configuration.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 27 Feb. 2026
The clip shows Roula De Miranda-Arce dangling from a chairlift at Big Bear Mountain Resort as her twin sister Raizel De Miranda-Arce and her friend Makenna Dumlao hold on to her to prevent her from plummeting to the ground.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
When the woman showed up, the arm of the second twin was dangling out of the birth canal, Smith said.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
Weathers also does a lot of hanging exercises now, dangling his 230-pound frame from pull-up bars in an effort to alleviate and stretch out his lat.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Momo’s body is a mess — everything dangling or swollen or leaking.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Adjective
While the design here is emphatically traditional, a dose of modern whimsy comes through with a dangling, multi-floor chandelier loosely inspired by jellyfish.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2026
Cernan, the junior pilot, was outside, dangling—actually spinning, tumbling, and flailing—at the end of a long umbilical cord, completely unable to control his movements.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 11 Nov. 2025
Naru aside, Killer of Killers and Badlands have left a few dangling story threads.
—Brian Davids, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
Monaghan paired the gown with dangling statement earrings and a ring, while styling her hair in a sleek low bun.
—Ashley Hume, FOXNews.com, 2 Mar. 2026
Sennecke led a two-on-one rush, dangling and dragging his way to the net to create a tap-in for Kreider.
—Andrew Knoll, Oc Register, 28 Feb. 2026
That’s the problem with dangling participles and misplaced modifiers.
—Richard Lederer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
According to Textron Systems, the loitering munition, ominously named after the Damocles of the Ancient Greek parable of the dangling sword, enables top-attack capabilities with its VTOL configuration.
—Chris Young, Interesting Engineering, 27 Feb. 2026
The clip shows Roula De Miranda-Arce dangling from a chairlift at Big Bear Mountain Resort as her twin sister Raizel De Miranda-Arce and her friend Makenna Dumlao hold on to her to prevent her from plummeting to the ground.
—ABC News, 27 Feb. 2026
When the woman showed up, the arm of the second twin was dangling out of the birth canal, Smith said.
—Aria Bendix, NBC news, 26 Feb. 2026
Weathers also does a lot of hanging exercises now, dangling his 230-pound frame from pull-up bars in an effort to alleviate and stretch out his lat.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 26 Feb. 2026
Momo’s body is a mess — everything dangling or swollen or leaking.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 26 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dangling
hanging
Adjective
-
To maintain the immersive illusion, Iñárritu eschewed traditional hanging fabric.—
Robert Lang,
Deadline,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Leaving either of those bare was a topic of discussion, Carney says; a trade-off between the goal of paying homage to Steinway’s legacy and getting enough hanging space.—
Adriane Quinlan,
Curbed,
9 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Dangling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dangling. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.
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