WAGGING Synonyms: 69 Similar and Opposite Words

wagging

verb

present participle of wag

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

Relevance

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

as in bobbing

to make short up-and-down movements the bird's head wagged jerkily as it looked for worms

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of wagging Though the Colonel had many enemies, the violence of his death shocks the sleepy village and starts the tongues of the local gossips wagging. — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 15 July 2026 Today, these dotted dogs are living symbols of courage, companionship and tail-wagging tradition that’s an iconic part of American history. — Lauren Paige Richeson, USA Today, 15 July 2026 Though his tail was wagging, the dog immediately bounded down the hallway toward an officer, who fired his service pistol four times, killing the dog. — Paige St. John, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026 Bruce was next seen wrapped in towels on the boat, wagging his tail happily after being rescued. — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 9 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wagging

Verb

Maybe the manager didn’t feel like flapping their arms to dry them, seeing as how the cookline handwash sink didn’t have paper towels or a blower.

— David J. Neal July 24, Miami Herald, 24 July 2026
Generally, to be considered autistic, a person must have exhibited social difficulties and repetitive behaviors—such as hand-flapping and spinning—from before the age of 5.

— Olga Khazan, The Atlantic, 20 July 2026

Definition of flapping

Verb

GiGi had been on the phone for the past hour, the receiver tucked between her head and her left shoulder, a Prince album playing loudly so Syl couldn’t hear her gossiping.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 June 2026
Others reported witnessing judgmental comments, gossiping, staff intentionally violating patient privacy, staff wanting to punish the patients for their actions and denial of pain management during labor.

— Karli Swenson, The Conversation, 11 June 2026

Definition of gossiping

Verb

Emirates is rolling out a new type of headrest that will keep passengers from bobbing side to side in Economy Class seats.

— Eve Chen, USA Today, 24 July 2026
Guidry, at the prow, raised the lantern, revealed in the circle oflight a bobbing tangle of sargassum weed, a swimming snake, a child’s cloth doll.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026

Definition of bobbing

Verb

His violent men — Scott’s sinister dad and Melton’s sad one — light cigarettes by flicking matches on their ears and teeth.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026
France trailed 4-0 before Mbappé sparked a comeback attempt, flicking the ball past goalkeeper Dean Henderson in the 48th minute before adding a second with a left-footed finish from about 14 yards in the 66th.

— Mark Hodge, NBC news, 20 July 2026

Definition of flicking

Verb

In this way, simple cheapness becomes the rationale for pumping yet more carbon emissions into the atmosphere to import lumber produced through the destruction of overseas forests.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 July 2026
With Saudi Arabia pumping more oil through its East-West pipeline into the port of Yanbu, any Houthi attacks risk about 4½ million barrels of oil per day.

— Brian Sullivan, CNBC, 23 July 2026

Definition of pumping

Verb

There is something cultish about that idea — the player who tends not to start but has the knack to appear later on with antennae twitching, ready to seize the day and alter the course of a match.

— Amy Lawrence, New York Times, 21 June 2026
Leon Stetson was allegedly twitching, so officers moved him away from Carrie Stetson and started to render medical aid.

— Kellie Love, Hartford Courant, 12 June 2026

Definition of twitching

Verb

Lopez met with The Club’s HOA board to discuss safety concerns that homeowners said were caused by overcrowded units, such as a shaking elevator that dropped multiple floors and water leaking into hallways.

— Linda Robertson, Miami Herald, 25 July 2026
Republicans would emphasize border security and an economy that was finally shaking off years of high inflation.

— Jill Colvin, Fortune, 23 July 2026

Definition of shaking

Browse Nearby Words

waggery

wagging

waggish

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Style

“Wagging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wagging. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of wagging

verb

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