1
as in flapping
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
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2
as in gossiping
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wagging
Díaz disagreed, wagging his figure at the flag-bearer, and a VAR check confirmed Bayern could begin the celebrations.
—
ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Jake is wagging his tail and headed toward the door.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
The video footage Koch shared on Instagram captures every tail-wagging second of the homecoming.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026
Balkhy is also one of the people whose name is mentioned when chins start wagging about who will enter the race to be the next director-general of the WHO.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 14 Apr. 2026
Call it a tail-wagging twist on a classic casting call.
—Brittany Anas, Denver Post, 9 Apr. 2026
This might threaten unrelieved angst weighing down a 90-minute drama, or, maybe worse, a didactic, finger-wagging life lesson lecture.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026
In a brief closeup from an earlier tournament game, Mara was shown wagging his tongue in celebration … or was that in revenge?
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Tongues are wagging both here and across the pond.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
ABC News, 22 Apr. 2026
Jake is wagging his tail and headed toward the door.
—Laura Trujillo, USA Today, 15 Apr. 2026
The video footage Koch shared on Instagram captures every tail-wagging second of the homecoming.
—Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2026
Balkhy is also one of the people whose name is mentioned when chins start wagging about who will enter the race to be the next director-general of the WHO.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 14 Apr. 2026
Call it a tail-wagging twist on a classic casting call.
—Brittany Anas, Denver Post, 9 Apr. 2026
This might threaten unrelieved angst weighing down a 90-minute drama, or, maybe worse, a didactic, finger-wagging life lesson lecture.
—Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 7 Apr. 2026
In a brief closeup from an earlier tournament game, Mara was shown wagging his tongue in celebration … or was that in revenge?
—Los Angeles Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Tongues are wagging both here and across the pond.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wagging
Verb
-
Smaller birds darted around, their small wings flapping rapidly.—
Emily Holshouser,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
21 Apr. 2026
-
The setting is Scotland — very exotic to Danes back in the 19th century (not to mention great for showing off a male dancer’s petit batterie beneath a flapping kilt).—
Rachel Howard,
San Francisco Chronicle,
11 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But for the most part, the ladies will just be themselves, gabbing (and gossiping) away.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
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Plus the balcony is useful for intrigues and gossiping about the people below, as seen at Lady Danbury’s ball in season one of Bridgerton.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Naval mines bobbing in the waters of the Persian Gulf, threatening oil tankers.—
Jon Gambrell,
Fortune,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Here on the shore, overlooking the lighthouse and the harbor’s bobbing boats, partners Claire Hanrahan and Andrew Ainslie’s restaurant is the epitome of laidback chic with its country-kitchen interiors and butter yellow frontage.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This could be the bookworm equivalent of jet setting, perhaps—seeking out the places we’re taken to while flicking the pages.—
Connor Sturges,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Apr. 2026
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Edmundson, who’d lost MacKinnon on his first goal, atoned by receiving Kempe’s pass in the high slot and flicking a shot that clipped Wedgewood on its way into the net.—
Andrew Knoll,
Daily News,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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My issue is that over the years, my massage therapist has started talking to me more and more during the massage session and occasionally talks to me the entire session.—
R. Eric Thomas,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Apr. 2026
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To improve your sleep, the organization suggests minimizing disruptions before bed (yes, including screens) and talking to your doctor to solve any potential issues like sleep apnea.—
Sara Moniuszko,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The painting, which shows Trump famously pumping his fist after surviving gunfire at a campaign rally, was installed in the White House State Floor in April 2025.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Ragans was pumping high velocity.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Curry’s body began convulsing and twitching with increasing severity, consistent with him sustaining a traumatic brain injury from being punched in the face, documents state.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
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Afternoon Ben Thanh Market is Hồ Chí Minh’s biggest market – a vast maze of 1,500 stalls selling everything from still-twitching fish to electronics and souvenirs.—
Tamara Hinson,
Condé Nast Traveler,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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On Thursday night, after shaking off a deal that was short-circuited by another team, the Ravens would make a pick (Penn State guard Vega Ioane) that symbolically spoke to the franchise’s core values.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Backstage, everyone was crying and shaking, Pearlman says.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wagging. Accessed 29 Apr. 2026.
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