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
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
Local wags in the Tahoe region wryly simplify the options: Go to the end of your driveway and turn right or turn left.
—Calmatters, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
After David and Victoria Beckham’s oldest son, Brooklyn was missing in action (and all pics) at dad’s 50th birthday party at Cipriani Downtown last month, tongues began to wag.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for wag
Noun
According to Sweetie Pet Products, the position, speed, and direction of a wag all contribute to a canine's overall body language.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
Local wags in the Tahoe region wryly simplify the options: Go to the end of your driveway and turn right or turn left.
—Calmatters, The Mercury News, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
And based on the shadows in the crate, the dog appeared to be wagging its tail, soaking up all the attention in an unfamiliar setting.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 May 2025
After David and Victoria Beckham’s oldest son, Brooklyn was missing in action (and all pics) at dad’s 50th birthday party at Cipriani Downtown last month, tongues began to wag.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 7 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for wag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wag
Verb
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State and federal flags flapped in the wind at half-staff behind Thomas during his speech.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
16 May 2025
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Viewers were able to see Cannoli racing into the sunshine, with his ears flapping, tail wagging, and body bounding forward at full throttle.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 May 2025
Verb
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So, who better to gossip right now than the stunning cast themselves.—
Izzy Baskette,
People.com,
16 May 2025
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The teacher told them that Ellsworth, who died in 2018, rebuked her for gossiping. Campbell built a thriving children's ministry at Eastland Assembly of God.—
Mike Hixenbaugh,
NBC news,
12 May 2025
Verb
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But on this overcast summer day, only a couple dozen people bob on their surfboards, waiting for the perfect swell.—
Liz Baker,
NPR,
25 May 2025
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Listen to this article On a recent chilly morning, the Lake County Sheriff’s new Marine 1 boat was bobbing lightly with the water along a dock at the East Chicago Marina.—
Alexandra Kukulka,
Chicago Tribune,
25 May 2025
Verb
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With it, of course, comes a fair share of big budget popcorn flicks, as well as a collection of curious smaller movies that may just capture the cultural conversation.—
Dan Heching,
CNN Money,
23 May 2025
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Once the puck was on its way, Aho seemed to flick his heel backward for good measure.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
Verb
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Reopen Scripps Coastal Reserve first, talk later This letter was sent to California Coastal Commission enforcement staff counsel Andrew Willis, with a copy to the La Jolla Light.—
Letters To The Editor,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 May 2025
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Patti LuPone stood in a midtown recording studio one spring afternoon, talking to Carrie Bradshaw.—
Michael Schulman,
New Yorker,
26 May 2025
Verb
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In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) shakes hands with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un (R) after a signing ceremony following their bilateral talks at Kumsusan state residence in Pyongyang, on June 19, 2024.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 May 2025
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For me, a perfect beach bag starts with a lightweight, oversized tote that’s easy to shake the sand out of—preferably a mesh or water-resistant style.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Travel + Leisure,
28 May 2025
Verb
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An input lag of 4.6 milliseconds in the TV's dedicated Game mode is speedy enough for twitch reflexes, and the panel refreshes at 120Hz and supports variable refresh rates.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
20 May 2025
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The sight of his twitching arm, middle finger raised, is a fun touch to an otherwise-underwhelming send-off.—
Gayle Sequeira,
Vulture,
16 May 2025
Verb
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Hernández: Gerrit was just pumping fuel and emotion that inning.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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The letter urged the court to pump the brakes on the process, citing legal concerns with outdated population data and Voting Rights Act violations.—
Rachel Royster,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wag. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.
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