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
Larry Lage, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
In chilling videos from the sentencing, Alyssa — who has an undisclosed mental illness, according to her defense attorney — was seen smiling at the judge and nodding toward her attorneys.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026
His widow, Stephanie, though, remained composed after the verdict was read aloud for a second time, nodding her head as Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz spoke to her.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
Cami launched into her conundrum while Ember half listened, nodding often to disguise her own distraction.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Ravi Coltrane leads a Centennial Celebration Quartet, nodding to legacy while pushing the music forward.
—Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Not long after, Grupo Frontera invited Pulido to perform both songs with them at a concert in Edinburg, nodding to the intergenerational success of musica mexicana.
—Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, NPR, 24 Mar. 2026
Named after Argentine slang for the protein powder and pill cocktail that gym bros use to bulk up fast, and nodding to their own rapid rise, PAPOTA smartly distilled newfound fame into self-critique.
—Maria Nenet Barrios, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2026
Chalamet got into character for the New York premiere of A Complete Unknown, nodding to Dylan in a layered Celine Homme by Hedi Slimane outfit and new strawberry-blonde bangs.
—Amber Rambharose, InStyle, 15 Mar. 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
Moore responded to the judge by nodding, while his wife’s eyes welled with tears in the courtroom’s front row.
—Larry Lage, Chicago Tribune, 14 Apr. 2026
In chilling videos from the sentencing, Alyssa — who has an undisclosed mental illness, according to her defense attorney — was seen smiling at the judge and nodding toward her attorneys.
—Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 8 Apr. 2026
His widow, Stephanie, though, remained composed after the verdict was read aloud for a second time, nodding her head as Queens District Attorney Melinda Katz spoke to her.
—John Annese, New York Daily News, 1 Apr. 2026
Cami launched into her conundrum while Ember half listened, nodding often to disguise her own distraction.
—Literary Hub, 1 Apr. 2026
Ravi Coltrane leads a Centennial Celebration Quartet, nodding to legacy while pushing the music forward.
—Duante Beddingfield, Freep.com, 25 Mar. 2026
Not long after, Grupo Frontera invited Pulido to perform both songs with them at a concert in Edinburg, nodding to the intergenerational success of musica mexicana.
—Isabella Gomez Sarmiento, NPR, 24 Mar. 2026
Named after Argentine slang for the protein powder and pill cocktail that gym bros use to bulk up fast, and nodding to their own rapid rise, PAPOTA smartly distilled newfound fame into self-critique.
—Maria Nenet Barrios, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2026
Chalamet got into character for the New York premiere of A Complete Unknown, nodding to Dylan in a layered Celine Homme by Hedi Slimane outfit and new strawberry-blonde bangs.
—Amber Rambharose, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nodding
Verb
-
In a video posted by TikTok user @livingmyloylife, which was later stitched by the official Carnival Cruise account, an orange rescue boat is seen bobbing through choppy waters to meet the sailboat.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Despite not being the tallest goalie, Hicks does an exceptional job of working to see through traffic, bobbing and weaving to see shot releases without sacrificing angles.—
Scott Wheeler,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 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
-
Structure information summary Most structures in this region are resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
19 Apr. 2026
-
The starts were violent, ground-shaking and painfully loud.—
Jan Wagner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Apr. 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
-
Trump then turned around, pumping his fist to those sitting behind him, smiling and waving, then pointed a few times to the crowd.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
12 Apr. 2026
-
The lack of fuel has worsened the country’s other longtime problems, from pumping water, picking up garbage to producing food, among others.—
Nora Gámez Torres,
Miami Herald,
12 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nodding.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nodding. Accessed 21 Apr. 2026.
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