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
The younger Yaz’s pre-swing bat waggle was the topic, hitting coach Justin Viele said.
—Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle, 22 Mar. 2023
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
The younger Yaz’s pre-swing bat waggle was the topic, hitting coach Justin Viele said.
—Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle, 22 Mar. 2023
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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There is also a storm flap in the back center of the jacket that provides ventilation and makes the coat a breathable option during days when the temperature fluctuates.—
Rachel Trujillo,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Sep. 2025
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The zipper also does not span the entire top of the bag; rather, it is inset about an inch on each side, where a pair of clip-down flaps allows the bag to take on less of a tote shape and more of a boxy profile.—
Adam Campbell-Schmitt,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Any dairy farmer can tell you that biting flies are a pestilent scourge for cattle herds, which is why one so often sees cows throwing their heads, stamping their feet, flicking their tails, and twitching their skin—desperately trying to shake off the nasty creatures.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 Sep. 2025
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Baird, who at 5-10 is similar to Iloski in stature, flicked a clever header a foot wide of the far post.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This is not about taking the wag out of the puppy’s tail.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
11 Sep. 2025
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In a video on TikTok, Erin shared when the two dogs were reunited in a moment filled with excited tail wags.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Any dairy farmer can tell you that biting flies are a pestilent scourge for cattle herds, which is why one so often sees cows throwing their heads, stamping their feet, flicking their tails, and twitching their skin—desperately trying to shake off the nasty creatures.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 Sep. 2025
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Prior to the 2024 incident, Mangione reportedly shared information on Reddit about a number of health issues, including struggles with back pain, brain fog, and twitching leg muscles.—
Olivia-Anne Cleary,
Time,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The aforementioned head also has lights, with batteries included, and a tiny switch behind the neck.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Keep an eye on October 19 as a possible date for that switch.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Then, lift your chest and push your hips forward to swing the kettlebell up in front of the body.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
22 Sep. 2025
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Indeed, the designs swing between minimalist and maximalist.—
Luisa Zargani,
Footwear News,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Ultimately, the full-body wiggle could help shake out the tension in your back, get your blood flowing, and decompress things a bit.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
12 Sep. 2025
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Excited body language, like full-body wiggles and big tail wags, is another strong indicator of affection.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Submerge the spinach and gently swish it around to loosen dirt and debris.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
7 Sep. 2025
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The video of serene waves that swished behind the curved stage at the start of Dua Lipa’s concert slowly intensified until the tide became a surge, an appropriate analogy for the pop superstar’s arrival in the US for the first time in more than three years.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waggle. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
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