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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in waving
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Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of flapping
Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2025
When the wing flapping became incessant, the DNR team knew the eagles were just about ready.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
The exposure was also linked to particular symptoms of autism, including social withdrawal, hyperactivity and repetitive behaviors such as hand flapping and body rocking.
—Sharon Lerner, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2025
The exposure was also linked to particular symptoms of autism, including social withdrawal, hyperactivity and repetitive behaviors such as hand flapping and body rocking.
—Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 21 Aug. 2025
Humans long thought that flight would involve some flapping because everything that flies flaps, right?
—Eliza Strickland, IEEE Spectrum, 24 June 2025
Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2025
Above it all, flapping in the wind, there’s the stars and stripes, that latecomer flag to native nations.
—Casey Cep, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
While Manchester United’s Altay Bayindir (6ft 6in) was left flapping at a Declan Rice corner as Riccardo Calafiori nodded home, Raya easily dealt with similar issues later in the game, catching one delivery and punching the other well away from danger.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
These behaviors included; lifting one leg, spinning around on a perch, and flapping their wings on command (Figure 1B).
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Birds can soar through the sky for long periods without flapping their wings.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2025
Flimsy, flapping fabric simply doesn't offer the same kind of barrier as solid metal or fiberglass.
—New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2025
Verb
Wind-tunnel measurements revealed that the FSF motion delivers higher lift coefficients and better head-up pitching moments compared with simple flapping.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2025
When the wing flapping became incessant, the DNR team knew the eagles were just about ready.
—Sophie Hartley, IndyStar, 3 Sep. 2025
The exposure was also linked to particular symptoms of autism, including social withdrawal, hyperactivity and repetitive behaviors such as hand flapping and body rocking.
—Sharon Lerner, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2025
The exposure was also linked to particular symptoms of autism, including social withdrawal, hyperactivity and repetitive behaviors such as hand flapping and body rocking.
—Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 21 Aug. 2025
Humans long thought that flight would involve some flapping because everything that flies flaps, right?
—Eliza Strickland, IEEE Spectrum, 24 June 2025
Noun
But its appeal can’t be divorced from the romance of its history, which properly began in the 19th century when English polo players began wearing oxford shirts as their preferred uniform, complete with collars that buttoned against the body to prevent their points from flapping in the wind.
—Eric Twardzik, Robb Report, 6 Oct. 2025
Above it all, flapping in the wind, there’s the stars and stripes, that latecomer flag to native nations.
—Casey Cep, New Yorker, 6 Oct. 2025
While Manchester United’s Altay Bayindir (6ft 6in) was left flapping at a Declan Rice corner as Riccardo Calafiori nodded home, Raya easily dealt with similar issues later in the game, catching one delivery and punching the other well away from danger.
—Mark Carey, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
These behaviors included; lifting one leg, spinning around on a perch, and flapping their wings on command (Figure 1B).
—Grrlscientist, Forbes.com, 13 Sep. 2025
Birds can soar through the sky for long periods without flapping their wings.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 5 Sep. 2025
Flimsy, flapping fabric simply doesn't offer the same kind of barrier as solid metal or fiberglass.
—New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for flapping
Verb
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The Chinese national flag fluttering with the Lujiazui Financial District in the background.—
Yeo Boon Ping,
CNBC,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Longer pieces reached the tops of her cheekbones, fluttering out like wings.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Males and females both wave their legs and the waving was not related to courtship or competition.—
Laura Baisas,
Popular Science,
11 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Las Vegas coach Becky Hammon called a timeout with five seconds remaining and Jackie Young flailing — wanting to ensure that the Aces got the final shot of the game — and Hammon put the ball in her MVP’s hands.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
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Clark, who knelt beside Foo 30 years ago when the surfer was pulled lifeless from the sea, watched Slebir’s epic ride that day from the back of a Sea-Doo, set up to pull flailing surfers aboard.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
13 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Patients first experience twitching or weakness in a limb, often followed by slurred speech.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
29 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Flapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flapping. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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