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
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
Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
The fawner, scarred by past experiences of rejection, courts not just individuals but people in the aggregate—a monolithic other, dangling validation like a carrot.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Vergara added several inches to her stature with towering silver sandal platform heels with ankle straps, and added some extra sparkle with a large diamond cocktail ring and dangling statement diamond earrings.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 12 Jan. 2026
Stand on edge, heels dangling, ideally barefoot.
—Gretchen Reynolds, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
There was one dangling question, though.
—Sarah Hepola, Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026
Those would soon morph into dangling earrings and a tiny white nose.
—Andrew Dalton, Fortune, 2 Jan. 2026
All that greenery is accented by a group of stunning Italian Murano amber glass chandeliers dangling from the ceiling.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 30 Dec. 2025
His truck is a vivid green, with a green skeleton dangling above the flatbed, and a Grinch plastered to the grille during Christmastime.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 23 Dec. 2025
Adjective
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
Beautiful Ugly follows writer Grady Green whose wife mysteriously disappears after her car is found dangling over a cliff.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 13 Jan. 2026
The fawner, scarred by past experiences of rejection, courts not just individuals but people in the aggregate—a monolithic other, dangling validation like a carrot.
—Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026
Vergara added several inches to her stature with towering silver sandal platform heels with ankle straps, and added some extra sparkle with a large diamond cocktail ring and dangling statement diamond earrings.
—Lara Walsh, InStyle, 12 Jan. 2026
Stand on edge, heels dangling, ideally barefoot.
—Gretchen Reynolds, Washington Post, 7 Jan. 2026
There was one dangling question, though.
—Sarah Hepola, Dallas Morning News, 6 Jan. 2026
Those would soon morph into dangling earrings and a tiny white nose.
—Andrew Dalton, Fortune, 2 Jan. 2026
All that greenery is accented by a group of stunning Italian Murano amber glass chandeliers dangling from the ceiling.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 30 Dec. 2025
His truck is a vivid green, with a green skeleton dangling above the flatbed, and a Grinch plastered to the grille during Christmastime.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 23 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for dangling
hanging
Adjective
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Max Houser 6-Tier Hanging Closet Shelf Instantly create more hanging space with this fabric shelving unit that makes use of otherwise dead vertical space.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Dec. 2025
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Of the other methods – including electrocution, lethal gas and hanging – lethal injection had the highest botch rate of more than 7%. ‘An embrace of brutality’ Still, states have remained averse to the firing squad, a position that experts who spoke to CNN believe stems from its overt violence.—
Dakin Andone,
CNN Money,
10 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Dangling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/dangling. Accessed 22 Jan. 2026.
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