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
Tongues are wagging both here and across the pond.
—
Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
The book geared to children ages 6 to 8 features a furry, tail-wagging dog who wants to be included in a playdate with two friends.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Zendaya kicked off Paris Fashion Week by sending tongues wagging in bridal white chic.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
Tail wagging, happy whining, and excited greetings when your husband comes home tell me Eddie likes him.
—Cathy M. Rosenthal, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Feb. 2026
Her debut turn alongside Jeremy Renner as a seductive escort got industry tongues wagging.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
Start your new year with love, cuddles and wagging tails!
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2025
Christmas cheer came early, with wagging tails and floppy ears.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
Her body became stiff, alert, and her ever-wagging tail dropped low.
—Kelso Harper, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025
Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 12 Mar. 2026
The book geared to children ages 6 to 8 features a furry, tail-wagging dog who wants to be included in a playdate with two friends.
—Julie Gallant, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Zendaya kicked off Paris Fashion Week by sending tongues wagging in bridal white chic.
—Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Mar. 2026
Tail wagging, happy whining, and excited greetings when your husband comes home tell me Eddie likes him.
—Cathy M. Rosenthal, San Antonio Express-News, 26 Feb. 2026
Her debut turn alongside Jeremy Renner as a seductive escort got industry tongues wagging.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 15 Feb. 2026
Start your new year with love, cuddles and wagging tails!
—Hema Sivanandam, Mercury News, 22 Dec. 2025
Christmas cheer came early, with wagging tails and floppy ears.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 19 Dec. 2025
Her body became stiff, alert, and her ever-wagging tail dropped low.
—Kelso Harper, Scientific American, 16 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wagging
Verb
-
Yes, literally like a bird flapping its wings.—
Alex Kirshner,
New York Times,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Large, thoughtful pockets stay accessible without flapping, and adjusters at the waist and cuffs help keep comfortability, even at mid-hike.—
Jessica Chapel,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
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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
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There were no street-style fits or social media postings, just vaping and gossiping and patiently waiting to be let in to dance.—
Leigh Nordstrom,
Footwear News,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Almost immediately, the dog begins bobbing her head, tracking the rhythm and sounds as if something deeply familiar has clicked back into place.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Rare was the creative artist, post-1970, who wasn’t churned up by bobbing in the Beatles’ wake.—
Anthony Lane,
New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Maza drew in Hamburg players before flicking the ball on for Kofane, who lashed it into the top-left corner.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The name Dekopin in Japanese refers to flicking someone on the forehead with a finger, typically as a lighthearted punishment or joke.—
Ryan Brennan,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The married father of two sons, who had been on the force for seven months, was making his regular rounds and stopped at Circle K, spotting Teresa talking with a 16-year-old boy outside the store, according to court records.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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But our cast from Hunting Wives happened to be at the party, and there was Ted talking to them and taking selfies.—
Lacey Rose,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Recent studies in the New England Journal of Medicine previously showed that starting beta-blockers soon after a heart attack did not improve major outcomes for certain patients with normal heart pumping function.—
Jacqueline Howard,
CNN Money,
30 Mar. 2026
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In a second, shorter video also shared to social media, Kid Rock is seen from a different angle pumping his fist at the first helicopter outside his house.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
30 Mar. 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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Structure information summary Most structures in this region are resistant to earthquake shaking, though vulnerable structures exist.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
27 Mar. 2026
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The fine powder is very messy to work with, however, so simply shaking it onto your chain wouldn't be practical.—
Ben Coxworth
March 27,
New Atlas,
27 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wagging. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
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