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
-
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
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They were seen by the clergy, for example, to be distracted by chocolate, drinking it and gossiping instead of paying attention to mass.—
Dana Taylor,
USA Today,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Even as the Hudson Theatre was still filling up, the star of the Harry Potter movie franchise (and much theater after that) was bobbing and flitting from row to row, exuding equal parts friendliness and determination of purpose.—
Chris Jones,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Mar. 2026
-
The most effective methods are those that involve movement, such as long strips of aluminum foil, holographic mylar tape streamers, or bobbing balloons, says Pierce.—
Arricca Elin SanSone,
Southern Living,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
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
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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
-
After all, talking to a defiant teen can be like tiptoeing through a minefield—the smallest misstep could set off an argument.—
Staff Author,
Parents,
9 Mar. 2026
-
Live Nation was reportedly talking with other DOJ officials outside of the antitrust division looking to settle, though the case proceeded after Subramanian denied Live Nation’s motion to dismiss the case last month while cutting out some claims to narrow the suit.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Officials have begun pumping the brakes a bit.—
Michael Smolens,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Gooding yells giddily, triumphantly jumping and fist-pumping the air.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Behind them a young man with a paint-flecked beard followed the designer about the set, twitching the hem of the velvet curtains hung at the window and rearranging the ornaments on the mantelpiece.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
13 Mar. 2026
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Levy brought the dog in dead and claimed that that the dog had a seizure and was vomiting, choking and twitching before his death.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There is the interceptors overhead, there's the loud booms, hotel windows shaking and alerts going off on your phone at all hours of the day and night.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The energy was on 10 from the moment Lil Fame and Billy Danze stepped onstage, bass shaking the walls like sheet metal in high wind.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
14 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wagging. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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