as in staggers
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
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Recent Examples of waddles
With a sigh, the German lady picks up her bags and waddles away.
—
Esther Yi,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
One solitary penguin rejects the breeding and feeding grounds of his fellow birds, and waddles toward icy mountains in the distance, undoubtedly to its death.
—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Grande then waddles out in the over-the-top ensemble, only to be met by Grombol, who breaks the bad news that the Christmas tree is no longer available to view.
—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
17 Dec. 2025
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
Esther Yi,
New Yorker,
14 June 2026
One solitary penguin rejects the breeding and feeding grounds of his fellow birds, and waddles toward icy mountains in the distance, undoubtedly to its death.
—
Dani Di Placido,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
Grande then waddles out in the over-the-top ensemble, only to be met by Grombol, who breaks the bad news that the Christmas tree is no longer available to view.
—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
17 Dec. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waddles
Verb
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Steely and deliberate songwriting that casually staggers down the line between rhythm and melody, laced with loose yet conscious jams.
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Like many Florida school districts, OCPS staggers start times to most efficiently use its school buses and drivers.
Verb
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The film unhurriedly lurches from one markedly similar fight scene to the next, with only Skeletor’s occasional injections of ripe innuendo to liven them up a bit.
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By the end, Noonan’s film stops feeling like a first date and starts to resemble the makings of a crime scene as his mood lurches toward something dangerous.
Verb
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At the sound of morning prayers, an older Clarissa awakens from this dream and shuffles out to her lawn, where the leafy bush has been replaced with the industrial skyline of Lagos.
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Tristan returns home and greets James while Siegfried shuffles the woman out the window.
Verb
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Father Joseph Balikuddembe, a young priest, weaves down the aisle for communion, depositing wafers on the nuns' lips.
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Created in collaboration with Misfit House founder Monica Stewart and Sun House Children’s clothing designer Hollis McFadden, Tassel House Textiles weaves together nature motifs and historical palettes for a collection that adds instant patina.
Cite this Entry
“Waddles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waddles. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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