waddle

verb

ˈwä-dᵊl How to pronounce waddle (audio)
Definition of waddlenext
as in to stagger
to move forward while swaying from side to side the duck waddled back into the water we watched the penguins waddle over the ice together

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 waddle Dodgers two-way phenom Shohei Ohtani waddled through the clubhouse after the Dodgers’ 4-3 comeback victory against the Padres on Friday night, the bulging ice wraps around his left knee and right arm creating a penguin-like effect to his gait. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026 Yet one place that Merlin is allowed is inside Mexican leader Claudia Sheinbaum’s presidential palace, waddling onto stage on Monday morning for her daily briefing. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 26 June 2026 In less than two weeks, Merlín went from waddling through the streets of Mexico City during Mexico's opening victory to visiting the presidential palace. — ABC News, 24 June 2026 Once considered delightfully kitschy relics of suburban Americana, porch geese are waddling their way back into the spotlight. — Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 29 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for waddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waddle
  1. stagger
  2. lurch
  3. weave
  4. totter
  5. shuffle
Verb
  • The firm noted that the apps had staggered platform releases split between Apple and Google Play, which would impact their totals.
    — Jonathan Vanian, CNBC, 21 Sep. 2026
  • To adjust to the limited space, many teams are expected to stagger arrivals of athletes and officials.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of stagger
Verb
  • The alternative is a region that lurches from crisis to crisis, and from one extreme to another.
    — DAN RESTREPO, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026
  • Maybe this is what the Chargers are — lurching, sputtering and unable to consistently move the football, despite an offensive overhaul packed with lofty expectations.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
Definition of lurch
Verb
  • Elaine unravels that mystery, weaving together the way insurance companies’ coverage decisions have shaped how these medicines are used.
    — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Intricate leather weaves reinterpreted the brand’s classic bags and shoes, while denim, crystal embroidery and ostrich-effect materials added pizzazz to the lineup.
    — Katie Abel, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of weave
Verb
  • Like a lot of us who tottered into consciousness in the second half of the 20th century, Les Claypool grew up with cartoons from the family television beaming into his retinas.
    — Sasha Geffen, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 2026
  • Outside, a gull tottered to the window and tapped its beak against the glass.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 13 July 2026
Definition of totter
Verb
  • The Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs — both gearing up for the playoffs during the final weekend of the regular Major League Baseball season — had to shuffle the schedule for their three-game series.
    — Leah Willingham, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2026
  • The longtime headquarters of CBS News’s most hallowed properties—60 Minutes and Inside Edition—was recently hollowed out in a Paramount acquisition that saw personalities and producers shuffled to a center across the street.
    — Tessa Solomon, ARTnews.com, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of shuffle

Browse Nearby Words

waddings
waddle
waddled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Waddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waddle. Accessed 3 Oct. 2026.

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