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
Next to our two enormous dogs, this new addition with short legs and a tail that never stopped wagging was the true cosmic newcomer.
—
Steven Rowley, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026
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
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
Steven Rowley, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026
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
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 slot formerly occupied by a performance from the Commodores will now be filled with the sound of a lone Gadsden flag flapping on its pole.—
Alexandra Petri,
The Atlantic,
3 June 2026
-
The fathers, faces ruddy, prayed in Latin for her soul, black robes flapping in the wind.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
Verb
-
On Friday night, the United Talent Agency, along with Vulture, held their yearly elegant soiree, bringing in people from across the scene, with actors, producers, and agents gabbing and gossiping about the past year in Broadway and beyond.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
7 June 2026
-
Reading these conversations feels like attending a party at which each new guest talks over the one before, disputing and undermining, gossiping and bringing into doubt the fundamental purpose of their coming together.—
Joe Dunthorne,
The New York Review of Books,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
While the view from my balcony, overlooking yachts bobbing in the marina and Table Mountain further beyond, was lovely, nothing compares to the two-bedroom Cape Grace suite, with its panoramic perch over the mountain and harbor.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 June 2026
-
Many of the jurors were seemingly shaken by Gavin’s appearance in the film; others were seen bobbing their heads and dancing in their seats during sections featuring Jackson's music.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
3 June 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
-
My mother opens the balcony door and starts hanging up underpants, talking to the guests with her back to them.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
8 June 2026
-
The hottest new social activity is not talking Silent reading clubs are giving like-minded bookworms a brain boost.—
Alexandra Banner,
CNN Money,
8 June 2026
Verb
-
More than a hundred and sixty thousand students enrolled, pumping Tate’s content into algorithms already primed to amplify extreme ideas.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
-
The project, undertaken in coordination with the South Delta Water Agency, was intended to offset impacts from water exports by the Central Valley Project and State Water Project pumping plants.—
Reeti Malhotra
June 5,
Sacbee.com,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
The Hormuz crisis will not end when oil markets stop twitching.—
John W.H. Denton AO,
Fortune,
6 June 2026
-
The Buena Vista Social Club features feet-twitching music and Wolf says that, obviously, people want to get up and dance but that’s just not allowed.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
2 June 2026
Verb
-
People gathered near the site to get a front row seat to the ground-shaking event.—
Abigail Dollins,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 June 2026
-
Then, during one family movie night in November 2020, her husband noticed her arm was shaking.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wagging. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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