as in waving
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
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
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
Yes, literally like a bird flapping its wings.
—Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 8 Mar. 2026
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
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
-
But the flag-waving takes on a different meaning in his tweet, making Sosa part of the propaganda machine.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
-
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
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
-
During this phase, octopuses display visible twitching along with rapid changes in skin color and texture, per NPR.—
Samantha Agate,
Miami Herald,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Gosnell did not testify at his 2013 trial, but his defense attorney argued that none of the fetuses were born alive and that any movements were posthumous twitching or spasms, according to the AP.—
Greg Norman-Diamond,
FOXNews.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Flapping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/flapping. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
