Synonyms of wag

wag 1 of 3

noun (1)

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

• flap
• flick
• twitch
• waggle
• switch
• swish
• wave
• flutter
• whisk
• nod
• wiggle
• shake
• rock
• whip
• swing
• jerk
• sway
• oscillation
• bob
• jolt
• waver
• snap
• jiggle

wag

2 of 3

noun (2)

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

• comedian
• droll
• humorist
• wit
• gagger
• jokester
• jester
• farceur
• funnyman
• entertainer
• clown
• comic
• card
• joker
• gagman
• gagster
• comedienne
• knockabout
• buffoon
• practical joker
• kidder
• prankster
• teaser
• fool
• harlequin
• quipster
• parodist
• wisecracker
• banterer
• caricaturist
• satirist
• zany
• quipper
• cutup
• lampooner

wag

3 of 3

verb

ˈwag 

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

• flap
• flick
• twitch
• bob
• swing
• waggle
• switch
• swish
• jerk
• sway
• wave
• shake
• flutter
• oscillate
• lash
• whip
• rock
• wiggle
• waver
• flail
• flicker
• nod
• flop
• jolt
• beat
• jog
• jiggle
• jig
• joggle

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• gossip
• talk
• tattle
• tell
• dish
• blab
• spill the beans
• reveal
• hint
• divulge
• disclose
• rumor
• report
• imply
• suggest
• let on
• inform
• circulate
• noise (about or abroad)
• tip (off)
• insinuate
• spill
• confide
• snitch
• intimate
• blabber
• squeal
• babble
• bandy (about)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• shut up
• clam up

3

as in to bob

to make short up-and-down movements

the bird's head wagged jerkily as it looked for worms

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bob
• shake
• pump
• jerk
• nod
• sway
• jog
• wiggle
• jounce
• bobble
• seesaw
• duck
• rock
• swing
• oscillate
• wobble
• jiggle
• wabble
• undulate
• drop

Examples of wag in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

However, once freed, Nova quickly turned into a wiggly, happy girl with endless tail wags. —Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 30 Jan. 2024

By now my heart was beating faster than the wag of Walter’s tail, as Jackie reached for her purse and took out the phone. —Laura Black, Baltimore Sun, 2 Apr. 2024

The limping boy, the wag with the bear, the cad with the under look, the Londoner, the libertine, the would-be liberator: take your pick. —Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2024

Suggesting excitement, eagerness, or simply pure joy, the tail wag has long been emblazoned as the default symbol of canine carefreeness. —Max Bennett, Discover Magazine, 7 Feb. 2024