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
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
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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Like many Florida school districts, OCPS staggers start times to most efficiently use its school buses and drivers.—
Steven Walker,
The Orlando Sentinel,
12 Mar. 2026
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The first 10 minutes of the film are set in Norms, where a grungy man staggers in with a bomb, ranting about artificial intelligence.—
Fielding Buck,
Daily News,
10 Feb. 2026
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.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
2 June 2026
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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.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
1 May 2026
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.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
16 May 2026
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Tristan returns home and greets James while Siegfried shuffles the woman out the window.—
Alice Burton,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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First released in May 2026 as a single ahead of her next album Whiskey & Hemingway, the song effortlessly weaves traditional American country elements with the singer's El Salvadoran heritage.—
Chris Barilla,
PEOPLE,
9 June 2026
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The tour begins at Dos Lokos in Westport, crosses the state line to Cortadito Cuban Cafe in Kansas City, Kansas, weaves to Tacos Valentina in the Crossroads, Union Station and back to party at the Mexican sports bar.—
Eleanor Nash,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waddles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waddles. Accessed 11 Jun. 2026.
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