Thesaurus results for WAGGLE

waggle 1 of 2

noun

Definition of waggle

as in flap

a quick jerky movement from side to side or up and down a quick waggle of her head to indicate "no"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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waggle

2 of 2

verb

ˈwa-gəl

as in to flap

to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions the rabbit waggled its ears and hopped away

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 waggle

Noun

Researchers found that the receivers of the dance weren’t just following the direction and distance indicated by the waggle dance. — Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 6 Oct. 2025 Already Guerrero seems to be able to convey of-the-moment phrasings and character directions with a few emphatic motions—a roller-coaster swoop here, a waggle of the fingers there—and get an immediate response from the choristers. — Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025

Verb

When LaBeija, as Gus the Theatre Cat, finally strolled onstage to revisit his glory days, waggling his long, polished claws, a younger Gus (Jonathan Burke) appeared, like a mirror dancing toward him. — Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2026 The crimson tips of giant tube worms waggled in the current, tangling around clusters of mussels. — Maya Wei-Haas, New York Times, 2 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for waggle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waggle

Noun

The flap followed Carr’s call for stronger enforcement of the equal-time rule.

— Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026
The part that was chewed was the part that goes over your instep, a kind of flap or lip.

— Lydia Davis, New Yorker, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of flap

Verb

That’s the good life for a family that rarely flicked on the television in their childhood home.

— Matt Schneidman, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
As if to signal this iteration hasn’t completely deviated from its roots, in the show’s opening moments, Deborah Wayne coolly flicks the iconic flip-up frames made famous by Hardison’s Dwayne.

— Senior Television, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of flick

Noun

Ever since the infamous finger-wag at LSU, Clark has dominated Angel Reese.

— Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 June 2026
Moreover, if Griffin stepped into public life now, the cynical wags in finance would declare the reason obvious—his hedge fund’s returns have been sagging.

— Gary Sernovitz, New Yorker, 15 June 2026

Definition of wag

Verb

The 5-11, 210-pounder is a sudden cutter who runs with power and twitch, attacking space like a great punt returner.

— Nick Baumgardner, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026
The muscles in Lola Petticrew’s face twitch ever so slightly, indicating Catherine’s excitement that the police are now in possession of this picture.

— Erin Qualey, Vulture, 3 Aug. 2026

Definition of twitch

Verb

They are populated by characters who swing between extremes, people on the verge of disappearing one minute and of being too forward the next, either revealing too much or too little.

— Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 6 Sep. 2026
Steinem's version of feminism today is more aligned with Democrats at a time when, at least for now, the country has swung Republican.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of swing

Noun

During her visit to the Evelina London Children’s Hospital on Monday, Middleton wore the Suzannah London silk flippy wiggle shirtdress in white with black accents.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 10 July 2026
Saints peppered Trick with punches in the corner, but Trick gave Ricky a little wiggle and answered with strikes of his own.

— Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026

Definition of wiggle

Browse Nearby Words

waggishness

waggle

waggled

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Style

“Waggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waggle. Accessed 15 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of waggle

noun

verb

Example Sentences

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