as in flap
a quick jerky movement from side to side or up and down
the dog gave its tail a single wag before it flopped back down
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in comedian
a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor
some wag wrote a droll satire on the scandal for the newspaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to flap
to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions
the cat's tail wagged back and forth in annoyance
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to gossip
to relate sometimes questionable or secret information of a personal nature
tongues will wag as soon as word of the house's selling price gets around
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of wag
Dawn Kovell, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
Can anyone read that much Tynan without adopting his native tongue wag?
—Stephen Colbert, New Yorker, 18 July 2025
Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2025
Hope then asked to hold the pup, who has curly sandy-colored fur and wagged her tail as the 6-year-old held her in her arms (with a little help from her mom).
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wag
Noun
The placement of the tail, the type of the wag and the overall body posture need to be considered.
—Dawn Kovell, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
Can anyone read that much Tynan without adopting his native tongue wag?
—Stephen Colbert, New Yorker, 18 July 2025
Verb
Of course, with all the tail- and tongue-wagging joy our little friends get from tagging along comes some risk.
—Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 2 Sep. 2025
Hope then asked to hold the pup, who has curly sandy-colored fur and wagged her tail as the 6-year-old held her in her arms (with a little help from her mom).
—Hannah Sacks, People.com, 2 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wag
Verb
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Union Jacks flap gently in the breeze; a golden slither of evening sun drapes a row of cottages; a red postbox, still bearing the initials of the late Queen, stands outside a village church, bathed in the fading light.—
Rob Picheta,
CNN Money,
20 Sep. 2025
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That goes for Jimmy Kimmel and for anybody who flaps their gums for a living.—
Jesse Edwards,
MSNBC Newsweek,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That’s probably more a reflection of modern-day Young Thug than anything else, where the music is an afterthought to gossip and the CEO life.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
11 Sep. 2025
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A couple is having their pre-show Manhattans; a group of friends is gossiping over martinis and shrimp cocktail.—
Paul Brady,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Performers milled on the street with bobbing paper mache heads of Uncle Sam and other caricatures.—
Neda Ulaby,
NPR,
6 Oct. 2025
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Memories and childhood tokens bobbed and broke apart.—
Alaa Elassar,
CNN Money,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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For the Taliban, the episode possibly carries the lesson that attempting to turn back time on a population that’s grown up with the internet is much harder than just flicking a switch.—
Hilary Whiteman,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
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Replays suggested that Woltemade had flicked the ball in.—
George Caulkin,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The working group held 10 meetings between July and September, and talked to various entities affected or interested.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
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Home in a comfy chair, holding baby Zakaria, who’s nursing while Mayniel talks.—
Anna Gaca,
Pitchfork,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Weak to light shaking was recorded, and people in several cities - such as Big Bear City, Big Bear Lake and Angelus Oaks - reported experiencing the tremor, according to the USGS DYFI report.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
6 Oct. 2025
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The region has been shaken Other nations in the region have been affected by the tumult.—
Susan Page,
USA Today,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Her hand twitched from the heat.—
Zuzana Říhová,
Literary Hub,
26 Sep. 2025
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Any dairy farmer can tell you that biting flies are a pestilent scourge for cattle herds, which is why one so often sees cows throwing their heads, stamping their feet, flicking their tails, and twitching their skin—desperately trying to shake off the nasty creatures.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Americans love to travel, but rising costs are causing many people to pump the brakes and reconsider booking a trip.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
6 Oct. 2025
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Hurts pumped before the throw, but Brown said that didn’t slow his route.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wag. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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