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
Carousel of Progress’ animatronic family — headed by John and Sarah — will remain, including Uncle Orville and Rover, the dog with the ever-wagging tail.
—
Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2026
But in Croisette conversations about potential runners, riders and rovers, one mutt kept wagging its tail.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 22 May 2026
Dakota, a 3 ½-year-old Australian shepherd mix, bounced into the ring, her tail wagging.
—Ross Mantle, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Tax savings are real, but when the tax tail starts wagging the family dog, reversibility quietly disappears.
—Royce Ramey, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Her epic Valentine’s Day rant had tongues wagging for weeks.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 9 May 2026
Tongues set to wagging about whether the iconic bad boss at its center was really based on legendary Vogue editor Anna Wintour — in some circles, anyway.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
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
Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2026
But in Croisette conversations about potential runners, riders and rovers, one mutt kept wagging its tail.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 22 May 2026
Dakota, a 3 ½-year-old Australian shepherd mix, bounced into the ring, her tail wagging.
—Ross Mantle, New York Times, 21 May 2026
Tax savings are real, but when the tax tail starts wagging the family dog, reversibility quietly disappears.
—Royce Ramey, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
Her epic Valentine’s Day rant had tongues wagging for weeks.
—Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 9 May 2026
Tongues set to wagging about whether the iconic bad boss at its center was really based on legendary Vogue editor Anna Wintour — in some circles, anyway.
—Staff Author, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wagging
Verb
-
The fathers, faces ruddy, prayed in Latin for her soul, black robes flapping in the wind.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
-
There is a whole class of flying machine known as Ornithopters with flapping wings, most of which have been notably unsuccessful.—
David Hambling,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
What does a gossiping coffee do?—
Hallie Milstein,
Southern Living,
2 May 2026
-
But for the most part, the ladies will just be themselves, gabbing (and gossiping) away.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
During the parade, various NYYC members will be tooling around the Hudson, bobbing among the fleet.—
Paige Darrah,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 May 2026
-
The series welcomes us into its world every week with a peppy pinball alien girl, bobbing and weaving her way through the myriad challenges of everyday life, never failing to arrive at her intended destination.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Kamara found it a couple of hours before kick-off when flicking through a copy of the matchday programme.—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
23 May 2026
-
The dragons stalk the island, flicking their huge tongues in hopes of picking up the scent of a deer, wild boar, or water buffalo — the latter two species introduced by humans — or rodents and other smaller reptiles, including baby Komodo dragons.—
Craig Stanford,
Big Think,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Yousef Miller, a member of the North County Equity and Justice Coalition, was out on Buchanan Street on Monday, talking with people who pulled over to ask what had happened to Sheron.—
Caleb Lunetta,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 May 2026
-
Including Olah on the launch platform, however, shows the Vatican is seeking to directly influence those involved with developing the technology, and not to simply be talking from the sidelines.—
Christopher Lamb,
CNN Money,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Though the region remains relatively underexplored, recent finds have benefited from companies’ access to oil infrastructure and expertise built over decades at nearby Prudhoe Bay, the Alaska oil field that began pumping crude into TAPS in 1977.—
Jennifer A. Dlouhy,
Fortune,
24 May 2026
-
The Sacramento Teachers Association is spending big to try to get two candidates on the Sacramento County Board of Education board, while the California Charter Schools Association is pumping money into their opponents.—
Theresa Clift,
Sacbee.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
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Here, American fighter planes, cargo ships and Japanese freighters have spent decades transforming into thriving artificial reefs, draped in coral and surrounded by twitching clouds of tropical fish.—
Dea Jusufi,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2026
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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
Verb
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Built from the bones of a 12th-century hostelry, its hub is a vast, glamorous lounge bar complete with mixologists shaking modern-day mocktails under the ancient beams.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 May 2026
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José Gonzales, director of Fuerza de los Barrios (Strength of the Neighborhoods), told him their work as community activists involved shaking apple trees for their community to enjoy the fruits of their labor.—
Richard J. Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
23 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wagging. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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