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
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Recent Examples of waggle
Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2023
One part of this process – the famous waggle dance – was discovered decades ago.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 8 Dec. 2011
Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2024
The observations revealed that elephants greeted one another with specific combinations of vocalizations and gestures, such as rumbles with ear-flapping or ear-spreading, as well as other seemingly less deliberate physical movements, such as tail-raising and waggling, according to the study.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 9 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for waggle
Noun
The silence of the forest might be interrupted with a siren salute from a passing law enforcement helicopter, or a wing waggle from firefighting aircraft passing en route to a fire.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2023
One part of this process – the famous waggle dance – was discovered decades ago.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 8 Dec. 2011
Verb
These massive mammals greet each other with a mix of gestures and sounds—by flapping their ears, making rumbling noises, waggling their tails and reaching out their trunks, scientists reported last week in the journal Communications Biology.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2024
The observations revealed that elephants greeted one another with specific combinations of vocalizations and gestures, such as rumbles with ear-flapping or ear-spreading, as well as other seemingly less deliberate physical movements, such as tail-raising and waggling, according to the study.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 9 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for waggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waggle
Noun
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The asymmetrical flap and the dark and light brown color blocking add a modern touch to the classic front-button silhouette.—
Anna Popp,
Travel + Leisure,
2 May 2025
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The flap underscores growing tensions between Trump’s trade policy and corporate America, with the former increasingly coloring earnings calls and guidance suspensions across a broad range of sectors, from snacks and soda to semiconductors.—
Catherine Baab,
Quartz,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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An audience of about 75—who all seemed to be locals, except for me and a Dutch couple—roared and cheered as a gifted dancer named David Nieto shook the stage in a whir of heel stomps, wrist flicks, and head snaps.—
Christopher Bagley,
Travel + Leisure,
11 May 2025
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And if your mom loves action flicks and/or Keanu Reeves by chance?—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
10 May 2025
Noun
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When it was all said and done and Yorkie gave one final wag of her tail, she was revealed to be Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star, singer, and actress Erika Jayne.—
Lauren Huff,
EW.com,
10 Apr. 2025
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The direction of the wag matters, too—research suggests that dogs tend to wag more to the right when feeling positive and to the left when experiencing negative emotions.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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If their tail starts twitching or their ears are flattened, then they may be overstimulated, which can lead to aggression.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
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Real Estate As Ballast Against Market Turbulence Why does Manhattan real estate hold up while other assets twitch?—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Soon after, Roy’s assistant manager Nicole Rachel called Birdsall into the old motel office, showed him the three switches that control the 50-foot sign and invited him to do the honors.—
Christopher Reynolds,
Los Angeles Times,
15 May 2025
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Then a sudden switch: a bellicose, spine-stiffening bass line, and the instantly infamous refrain.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
15 May 2025
Verb
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In between the European trips, Biden had swung back to the United States to be at home in Wilmington, Delaware, for the verdict of his son Hunter Biden's guns case trial.—
Joey Garrison,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
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Happ’s oblique bothered him the most when attempting to swing.—
Meghan Montemurro,
Chicago Tribune,
15 May 2025
Noun
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After all the Alaskan sightseeing for the day, or if little ones (and not-so-little kids) just need to get their wiggles out, the onboard Disney’s Oceaneer Club can’t be beat.—
Disney Cruise Line,
AFAR Media,
7 May 2025
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Peña started an offensive overhaul last season, quieting his batting stance and eliminating the bat wiggle in his pre-pitch setup.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Thoroughly rinse by swishing water around the mouth.—
Lana Barhum,
Verywell Health,
15 May 2025
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The shot swished through, giving the Knicks a 116-113 lead over the Pistons during Game 6 of their first-round playoff series.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
2 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waggle. Accessed 21 May. 2025.
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