as in bowing
bending downward or forward
some students, with nodding heads, were helplessly falling asleep during the boring lecture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of nodding
Aylin Woodward, WSJ, 21 Dec. 2021
Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 1 June 2026
On it, the two trade not just verses but a series of escalating, truly incendiary guitar solos, Springsteen watching Morello intently and nodding encouragement and approval, before Morello handing the reins back to Springsteen.
—Caryn Rose, Variety, 28 May 2026
The metaphor of perfect communication as nodding to our contemporary AI revolution is specious beyond a point.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
Shipp asked, smiling and nodding slowly.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Flanked by sun-scarred, reddish rocks that look lifted from Arizona, Cars Land is a marvel of a theme park land, with its backdrop mountain range ever so slightly nodding to the fins of classic Cadillacs from 1957 to 1962.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Don Nelson, a master at securing contract extensions, is somewhere in Hawaii, nodding in approval.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 10 May 2026
My favorite part is infamous flopper LeBron James standing there nodding in approval at everything an irate Austin Reaves is saying like an approving father figure.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
They are known for their nodding flowers and evergreen foliage.
—Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 6 May 2026
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
The hardware gave the sandal most of its shape from the front, with each strap fastened by a large angular buckle that mirrored Bottega Veneta’s initials while nodding to the geometry that runs through the house’s intrecciato weaving.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 1 June 2026
On it, the two trade not just verses but a series of escalating, truly incendiary guitar solos, Springsteen watching Morello intently and nodding encouragement and approval, before Morello handing the reins back to Springsteen.
—Caryn Rose, Variety, 28 May 2026
The metaphor of perfect communication as nodding to our contemporary AI revolution is specious beyond a point.
—Ritesh Mehta, IndieWire, 17 May 2026
Shipp asked, smiling and nodding slowly.
—Chris Kenning, USA Today, 15 May 2026
Flanked by sun-scarred, reddish rocks that look lifted from Arizona, Cars Land is a marvel of a theme park land, with its backdrop mountain range ever so slightly nodding to the fins of classic Cadillacs from 1957 to 1962.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Don Nelson, a master at securing contract extensions, is somewhere in Hawaii, nodding in approval.
—Marcus Thompson Ii, New York Times, 10 May 2026
My favorite part is infamous flopper LeBron James standing there nodding in approval at everything an irate Austin Reaves is saying like an approving father figure.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 8 May 2026
They are known for their nodding flowers and evergreen foliage.
—Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 6 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nodding
Verb
-
During the parade, various NYYC members will be tooling around the Hudson, bobbing among the fleet.—
Paige Darrah,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 May 2026
-
The series welcomes us into its world every week with a peppy pinball alien girl, bobbing and weaving her way through the myriad challenges of everyday life, never failing to arrive at her intended destination.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
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
-
With Arena Monterrey shaking, El Grande II hit a flying clothesline for a nearfall.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
31 May 2026
-
YouTubers in their 20s are shaking things up in Hollywood.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
31 May 2026
Adjective
-
With bowed heads, friends and classmates wrapped their arms around each other.—
Keri Heath,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Instead of your standard dress shoes, Styles finished the look with a perfect pair of minty-green ballet flats with bowed laces.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
2 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Malaysian diver Lee Kian Lie, who is involved in the operation, said workers were pumping water out of the cave.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
31 May 2026
-
The team has been pumping water out of the cave to give the men an easier exit.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
30 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nodding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nodding. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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