Synonyms of waggle

waggle 1 of 2

noun

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

• flap
• flick
• wag
• twitch
• switch
• wiggle
• flutter
• swish
• wave
• whisk
• nod
• swing
• shake
• whip
• rock
• jerk
• sway
• oscillation
• bob
• jolt
• waver
• jiggle
• snap

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

• flap
• flick
• wag
• twitch
• swing
• switch
• swish
• bob
• sway
• jerk
• wave
• flutter
• shake
• flail
• wiggle
• oscillate
• lash
• whip
• waver
• flicker
• rock
• flop
• nod
• jiggle
• beat
• jolt
• jog
• jig
• joggle

Example Sentences

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