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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waddle
Eventually, the group waddles the alligator over to a waiting pickup truck and manages to lift the reptile even higher to push it into the bed of the truck.
—
Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
When Paddington first waddles on stage during the new West End musical based on the beloved bear, the audience at the Savoy Theatre can hardly contain their excitement.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 30 Nov. 2025
Ursula waddles back into the ocean, knowing full well that sometimes girl code is the harshest weapon of all.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2025
In an October 23 Instagram video posted by user @jenjinete, a tiny Shih Tzu puppy can be seen waddling onto the porch, tail wagging rapidly, as the mailman approaches to make the day's delivery.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for waddle
Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
When Paddington first waddles on stage during the new West End musical based on the beloved bear, the audience at the Savoy Theatre can hardly contain their excitement.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 30 Nov. 2025
Ursula waddles back into the ocean, knowing full well that sometimes girl code is the harshest weapon of all.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2025
In an October 23 Instagram video posted by user @jenjinete, a tiny Shih Tzu puppy can be seen waddling onto the porch, tail wagging rapidly, as the mailman approaches to make the day's delivery.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for waddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waddle
Verb
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David staggered away as the video cuts off.—
Julia Prodis Sulek,
Mercury News,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Lindsay staggered around, shackled by heroin.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Over the course of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s term, CPS has lurched from budget crisis to budget crisis, able only to muddle through due to record-breaking mayoral declarations of tax-increment-financing surpluses.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
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Elsewhere in town, the original creature, played by Christian Bale, has lurched here from Austria still on his lonely quest for companionship.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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On the opening shift, Boldy got the puck at the far blue line, weaved though a few Rangers defenders and fired through a screen to beat the New York goalie just 35 seconds into the period.—
Jess Myers,
Twin Cities,
15 Mar. 2026
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The checkpoint ahead crawls forward as officers slide mirrors beneath cars and canines weave through the line, sniffing for explosives.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Models are tottering on the cobblestoned Bond Street with their heels getting stuck in the rivets.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
13 Feb. 2026
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Now, even that tiny effort is tottering.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Samson Fellows shuffled in his slippers to a small space heater and flicked it on.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The Green Bay Packers are doing some shuffling at cornerback by adding Benjamin St-Juste while informing Nate Hobbs of a plan to release him a year after signing him to the $48 million, four-year contract, according to two people with knowledge of the decisions.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waddle. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.
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