as in waving
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as in fluttering
to move or cause to move with a striking motion
the stirring sight of a huge flock of geese flapping their wings
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Recent Examples of flapping
Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 2 Mar. 2026
The doll also was given articulated elbows and wrists to acknowledge stimming, hand flapping and other gestures that some autistic people use to process sensory information or to express excitement, according to Mattel.
—Dallas Morning News, 12 Jan. 2026
The doll also was given articulated elbows and wrists to acknowledge stimming, hand flapping and other gestures that some people with autism use to process sensory information or to express excitement, according to Mattel.
—CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
In the body, there’s a new articulation of the elbows and wrists that allows expressive hand gestures, such as hand flapping, which some autistic people may use to process their experiences or express themselves.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 12 Jan. 2026
As City prodded a stubborn defensive Everton shape that held Chelsea to their first WSL defeat under head coach Sonia Bompastor, there was no gurgling angst or arm flapping.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
For insect-sized robots, the weight of a battery powerful enough to sustain continuous flapping often exceeds the robot’s own lifting capacity.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026
The man whom Navarro likes to call the Boss seems to value insincere, or bought, obeisance—the flapping and fussing of a maître d’—more than heartfelt fandom, which lacks the piquancy of humiliation.
—Ian Parker, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
When the wing flapping became incessant, the DNR team knew the eagles were just about ready.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Mar. 2026
The way the Sharks were losing — and continue to lose — is one giant, flapping red flag.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
There are giant flapping birds.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2026
Many readers will remember the MetaFly, a remote-control robotic insect that flies by actually flapping its wings.
—New Atlas, 17 Feb. 2026
The ponytails were flopping and the eyelashes were flapping at West Orange High on Saturday afternoon, but don’t think the girls participating in the first-ever Orlando All-American Exposure Camp weren’t just as intense as the boys from the morning session.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
Longtime collaborator Alex Lockett returns to direct the clip, an upstairs/downstairs concept which follows Antonoff on struggle street, stumbling into randoms and flapping about in the rain.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 11 Feb. 2026
The accompanying illustration shows a terrified boy running from a sky full of books flapping their pages like Hitchcockian birds.
—Richard Sandomir, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Several Seahawks went to the end zone and started flapping their arms in celebration as Seattle coach Mike Macdonald pumped his fist on the sideline.
—Tim Rohan, NBC news, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
Somatic shaking can look a little different from one person to the next, but usually involves a few minutes of wildly uncoordinated jumping, arm flapping, and foot stomping.
—Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 2 Mar. 2026
The doll also was given articulated elbows and wrists to acknowledge stimming, hand flapping and other gestures that some autistic people use to process sensory information or to express excitement, according to Mattel.
—Dallas Morning News, 12 Jan. 2026
The doll also was given articulated elbows and wrists to acknowledge stimming, hand flapping and other gestures that some people with autism use to process sensory information or to express excitement, according to Mattel.
—CBS News, 12 Jan. 2026
In the body, there’s a new articulation of the elbows and wrists that allows expressive hand gestures, such as hand flapping, which some autistic people may use to process their experiences or express themselves.
—Sarah Scott, Parents, 12 Jan. 2026
As City prodded a stubborn defensive Everton shape that held Chelsea to their first WSL defeat under head coach Sonia Bompastor, there was no gurgling angst or arm flapping.
—Megan Feringa, New York Times, 12 Jan. 2026
For insect-sized robots, the weight of a battery powerful enough to sustain continuous flapping often exceeds the robot’s own lifting capacity.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Jan. 2026
The man whom Navarro likes to call the Boss seems to value insincere, or bought, obeisance—the flapping and fussing of a maître d’—more than heartfelt fandom, which lacks the piquancy of humiliation.
—Ian Parker, New Yorker, 22 Dec. 2025
When the wing flapping became incessant, the DNR team knew the eagles were just about ready.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
Large, thoughtful pockets stay accessible without flapping, and adjusters at the waist and cuffs help keep comfortability, even at mid-hike.
—Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Mar. 2026
The way the Sharks were losing — and continue to lose — is one giant, flapping red flag.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2026
There are giant flapping birds.
—Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2026
Many readers will remember the MetaFly, a remote-control robotic insect that flies by actually flapping its wings.
—New Atlas, 17 Feb. 2026
The ponytails were flopping and the eyelashes were flapping at West Orange High on Saturday afternoon, but don’t think the girls participating in the first-ever Orlando All-American Exposure Camp weren’t just as intense as the boys from the morning session.
—Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 Feb. 2026
Longtime collaborator Alex Lockett returns to direct the clip, an upstairs/downstairs concept which follows Antonoff on struggle street, stumbling into randoms and flapping about in the rain.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 11 Feb. 2026
The accompanying illustration shows a terrified boy running from a sky full of books flapping their pages like Hitchcockian birds.
—Richard Sandomir, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2026
Several Seahawks went to the end zone and started flapping their arms in celebration as Seattle coach Mike Macdonald pumped his fist on the sideline.
—Tim Rohan, NBC news, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flapping
Noun
-
The flag-waving, the face paint, the pugnacious songs, the banners, the bellicose taunts at the opponents, the arms flung out in unison foster a collective spirit that can turn violent at times.—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
-
Flag waving, immigration restriction, and culture-war rallying cries can shore up the MAGA-tech coalition, but more will be needed to achieve lasting success.—
Walter Russell Mead,
The Atlantic,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
October marks the start of butterfly season, with vibrant swarms fluttering well into the green season.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The sudden movement sends the birds fluttering away from you, to watch and wait.—
Addie Citchens,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
But his role was not to fix a flailing business, but, rather, to keep a roaring flame alive.—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Somatic shaking involves a few minutes of fast, energetic movement like jumping, arm flailing, and foot stomping.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The disease, which gets worse over time, starts with muscle twitching, slurred speech, or weakness in an arm or leg.—
Jason Pham,
StyleCaster,
20 Feb. 2026
-
After 10 weeks without food, Muraisi is experiencing involuntary muscular twitching and severe chest pains, according to Prisoners for Palestine, with her doctors warning of possible cardiovascular collapse.—
Kara Fox,
CNN Money,
14 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flapping. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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