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

Relevance

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

This version has a removable belt for a customizable fit, a storm flap and back vent for breathability, and multiple pockets for keeping essentials close by.

— Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2026
The best testing locations include the underside of the base, the inside of a flap, the back of a strap, and a low section near a seam.

— Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of flap

Verb

Marcus Caldeira flicked a header from about 35 yards out to Pereyra, who chipped in a first-touch finish from a couple steps inside the penalty box.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Within a few minutes, Hutchinson has his mobile out, happily flicking through the screensavers.

— Paul Taylor, New York Times, 4 Aug. 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

Noun

Wyndham Clark picked up his third win of 2026 on Sunday after flipping a switch down the stretch at the BMW Championship and fending off Rory McIlroy.

— Mark Harris OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
The switch-up was first reported by Deadline, which said the recasting was due to scheduling issues on Hoult's part.

— Brendan Morrow, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of switch

Verb

Prices of the precious commodity have swung dramatically from one season to the next, particularly as issues such as climate change, water scarcity and pest and disease pressures persist.

— Sam Meredith, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026
The club opted against a lengthy pre-season trip to North America, Oceania, or East Asia, preferring a smaller-scale tour in which the squad swung back to the Carrington training ground after playing across a host of European cities.

— Carl Anka, New York Times, 19 Aug. 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

Verb

Squirt some disinfectant into the bowl and swish it around with the toilet brush, then flush.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2026
Waiters swished past with little pots of lemon sorbet and glasses of Sprankel, a sparkling wine from Babylonstoren, Roos and Bekker’s farm and hotel in South Africa’s Franschhoek wine valley.

— Mary Holland, Travel + Leisure, 18 July 2026

Definition of swish

Browse Nearby Words

waggishness

waggle

waggled

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Waggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waggle. Accessed 25 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of waggle

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

tilde

Popular in Grammar & Usage

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek

Popular

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Games & Quizzes