as in bowing
bending downward or forward
some students, with nodding heads, were helplessly falling asleep during the boring lecture
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in bobbing
to make short up-and-down movements
though she couldn't see the rain, she knew it had started because she could see the flowers nod as raindrops hit them
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of nodding
Aylin Woodward, WSJ, 21 Dec. 2021
Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Well, maybe not cheering, exactly, but at least nodding in mild appreciation at a movie that realizes its humble and happy purpose.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
Trump has returned the favor by publicly nodding in the network’s direction.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Warner said, nodding to the typical practice of interdicting boats suspected of ferrying drugs rather than blowing them up.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 30 Oct. 2025
Companies have mostly cited efforts to streamline operations and growth strategy as reasons for cuts, but many are nodding at AI as part of the reason that human worker roles can be axed now or in the future.
—Pia Singh, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
For this collection, Blanga and Capitani revisited some of the signature styles that have marked Eéra’s success through the years in warm hues and sandy tones, nodding to the striking rock formations, sweeping deserts and lush oasis of the area.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025
The collection also pays tribute to the Belgian designer’s work for Y/Project, with various pieces in the collection—from boots through to prints—nodding to key archival designs.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025
When the Food Network star shows off his extremely luxe kitchen, while also nodding to the roots of his cooking obsession.
—Megan Johnson, Architectural Digest, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
James O’Donoghue, a planetary scientist with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, likened our planet’s tilting phenomenon to a nodding head.
—Aylin Woodward, WSJ, 21 Dec. 2021
Verb
Others wore keffiyehs, a symbol of Palestinian resistance, nodding to an issue that inspired many of Mamdani’s supporters and was in turn weaponized by his critics.
—Alex J. Rouhandeh, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
Well, maybe not cheering, exactly, but at least nodding in mild appreciation at a movie that realizes its humble and happy purpose.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 4 Nov. 2025
Trump has returned the favor by publicly nodding in the network’s direction.
—Max Tani, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Warner said, nodding to the typical practice of interdicting boats suspected of ferrying drugs rather than blowing them up.
—Rebecca Beitsch, The Hill, 30 Oct. 2025
Companies have mostly cited efforts to streamline operations and growth strategy as reasons for cuts, but many are nodding at AI as part of the reason that human worker roles can be axed now or in the future.
—Pia Singh, CNBC, 27 Oct. 2025
For this collection, Blanga and Capitani revisited some of the signature styles that have marked Eéra’s success through the years in warm hues and sandy tones, nodding to the striking rock formations, sweeping deserts and lush oasis of the area.
—Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 27 Oct. 2025
The collection also pays tribute to the Belgian designer’s work for Y/Project, with various pieces in the collection—from boots through to prints—nodding to key archival designs.
—Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 24 Oct. 2025
When the Food Network star shows off his extremely luxe kitchen, while also nodding to the roots of his cooking obsession.
—Megan Johnson, Architectural Digest, 23 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nodding
Verb
-
While images of retinas bursting with color and a dove flapping its wings on an outstretched human hand looped behind them, the two allowed the crowd to grow denser while bobbing along to their rhythms.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
6 Nov. 2025
-
In the clip, Lecaillier cuts, tapes and shapes her materials until a wonderfully bonkers ostrich begins to take form — complete with flapping wings and a bobbing neck made from little more than determination and a sense of humor.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
And every day, across from them, outside the clinic, about to enter or just leaving, there were women hugging each other and weeping.—
David Mamet,
National Review,
11 Aug. 2022
-
The show manages to stay on the brink — always laughing, never quite weeping — for its entire length.—
Helen Shaw,
Vulture,
8 Dec. 2021
Verb
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Start the process by vigorously shaking or hanging then pounding the rug to remove loose dirt, crumbs, and other particles, then vacuum it thoroughly on both sides, using a canister vacuum with the hose or a high pile setting—and no beater bar!—
Jennifer Beck Goldblatt,
Architectural Digest,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Part of it was that Mark Kerr was sitting right beside him, shaking through the entire film—for many reasons.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
No racist stereotypes, no demeaning facial expressions, no bowed heads, and no broken bodies from the old Hollywood.—
David Faris,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
-
The composer also added synths to his orchestral score, as well as bowed metal, where a violin bow is rubbed against metal instruments like a cowbell or a Vibraphone, for when Roz has a particularly intense feeling.—
Mia Galuppo,
The Hollywood Reporter,
6 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Your Heart Gets Healthier Exercise strengthens the heart muscle, improving its efficiency in pumping blood throughout the body.—
Sarah Jividen,
Verywell Health,
4 Nov. 2025
-
For years, major medical organizations like the American Heart Association have recommended aiming to get at least 150 minutes of heart-pumping physical activity a week.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nodding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nodding. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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