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
In an October 23 Instagram video posted by user @jenjinete, a tiny Shih Tzu puppy can be seen waddling onto the porch, tail wagging rapidly, as the mailman approaches to make the day's delivery.
—
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
There wasn’t any tailgating at Gillette Stadium Sunday, but there were plenty of wagging tails.
—Boston Herald Staff, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Kiss’ original lineup included Frehley, singer-guitarist Paul Stanley, tongue-wagging bassist Gene Simmons and drummer Peter Criss.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
From metallic sparkle bandanas to adventure-ready harnesses and travel crates, this collection has everything your pet needs to keep their tails wagging and paws moving in style.
—Jessica Moore, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
Swift and Styles set tongues wagging after they were spotted by paparazzi strolling together in November 2012, and things seemed even more heated after they were photographed sharing some New Year’s Eve smooches the following month.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Blackberry is always ready to greet you with a wagging tail and a big smile.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2025
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
Dogs often show their happiness by wagging their tails, but one owner has learned those joyful wags can get canines into a bit of a predicament.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
There wasn’t any tailgating at Gillette Stadium Sunday, but there were plenty of wagging tails.
—Boston Herald Staff, Boston Herald, 19 Oct. 2025
Kiss’ original lineup included Frehley, singer-guitarist Paul Stanley, tongue-wagging bassist Gene Simmons and drummer Peter Criss.
—Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2025
From metallic sparkle bandanas to adventure-ready harnesses and travel crates, this collection has everything your pet needs to keep their tails wagging and paws moving in style.
—Jessica Moore, USA Today, 14 Oct. 2025
Swift and Styles set tongues wagging after they were spotted by paparazzi strolling together in November 2012, and things seemed even more heated after they were photographed sharing some New Year’s Eve smooches the following month.
—Lisa Respers France, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025
Blackberry is always ready to greet you with a wagging tail and a big smile.
—Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2025
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
Dogs often show their happiness by wagging their tails, but one owner has learned those joyful wags can get canines into a bit of a predicament.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 23 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wagging
Verb
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While images of retinas bursting with color and a dove flapping its wings on an outstretched human hand looped behind them, the two allowed the crowd to grow denser while bobbing along to their rhythms.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Gauzy curtains that have blown into a tree are flapping in the wind.—
Jane Arraf,
NPR,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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And what exactly are people gossiping about — and suing one another over — in the Hamptons?—
Curbed Staff,
Curbed,
16 Dec. 2025
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But when things go smoothly, the crew is mostly left to their own devices—and the minimal supervision leaves a lot of room for gossiping, flirting, getting high, and blasting EDM in the high-speed quad line.—
Corey Buhay,
Outside,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The faceless head of a man bobbing in the water recalls the countless Africans who perished during the perilous journey due to disease, malnourishment, and abuse, whose bodies were thrown overboard by unscrupulous ship captains and slavers to schools of sharks.—
James Meyer,
Artforum,
1 Jan. 2026
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The view inside the Phoenix Convention Center, seen from a mezzanine, was a sea of bobbing caps.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
22 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Older supporters will remember it well and, if anyone from the younger generation wants a glimpse into those times, perhaps a good place to start is by flicking through the pages of The Complete History Of Manchester City, written by football historian Gary James and published in 1997.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
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The reptile reacts to being picked up by flicking its meaty tail back and forth, whacking a few of the deputies.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
5 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Frankly, talking cost per use, the nail care hack pays for itself.—
Kyra Surgent,
InStyle,
10 Jan. 2026
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Seconds before the shooting, Good and her wife are seen talking to Ross.—
Allison Gordon,
CNN Money,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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To this day, as much fun as Johnson has with his offensive artistry, little gets his blood pumping like bringing a mauling running game to life.—
Dan Wiederer,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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Countries like China let their industries pollute freely, dumping chemicals into rivers, pumping toxins into the air and throwing plastics into the ocean.—
Chip Lamarca,
Sun Sentinel,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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His eye is twitching, just a little.—
Allegra Goodman,
New Yorker,
4 Jan. 2026
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In a heartbreaking video, a partially paralyzed dog is caught twitching his paws in his sleep, and internet users can’t stop sobbing.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Structure information summary Overall, the population in this region resides in structures that are highly resistant to earthquake shaking, though some vulnerable structures exist.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
8 Jan. 2026
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While Bryant was able to come from behind, the Lady Hornets had a hard time shaking off the Lady Warriors.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wagging. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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