as in flaps
a quick jerky movement from side to side or up and down
the dog gave its tail a single wag before it flopped back down
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in comedians
a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor
some wag wrote a droll satire on the scandal for the newspaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in waggles
to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions
the cat's tail wagged back and forth in annoyance
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in gossips
to relate sometimes questionable or secret information of a personal nature
tongues will wag as soon as word of the house's selling price gets around
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of wags
Gary Sernovitz,
New Yorker,
15 June 2026
Many critics, political pundits, and wags asked, somewhat rhetorically, whether anyone in the administration recalls how handing the responsibility of nuclear weaponry over to machines turned out in the Terminator movies.
—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
2 Mar. 2026
One hums with high-speed drills and anxiety; the other echoes with joyful barks and tail wags.
—
Henry I. Miller,
STAT,
28 Jan. 2026
That has, at least, spawned a rich stream of social media content, with wags across the world editing iconic cricket clips with the commentary coming before them.
—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Once returned to their moms, Lizzie and Bambie were all wags.
—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Dec. 2025
When Cody the golden retriever was introduced to his new sibling, his owner probably would have hoped for some happy tail wags and some curious sniffs to show his curiosity.
—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 2025
Less bending for pets + slower eating habits = better digestion and more tail wags.
—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
27 Aug. 2025
Christopher Edwards,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Yet the gas tail still wags the dog.
—
David Frykman,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
When a dog repeatedly wags and whips its tail against hard surfaces, the tip can split open, bruise or break.
—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Jan. 2026
In a lot of ways, Phil is the tail that wags the dog.
—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
31 Oct. 2025
As Gino wags his finger at his estranged wife, Natalie begins to approach Jasmine.
—
Abigail Adams,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Learn why the world wags and what wags it.
—
Literary Hub,
13 June 2025
Noun
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
Many critics, political pundits, and wags asked, somewhat rhetorically, whether anyone in the administration recalls how handing the responsibility of nuclear weaponry over to machines turned out in the Terminator movies.
—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
2 Mar. 2026
One hums with high-speed drills and anxiety; the other echoes with joyful barks and tail wags.
—
Henry I. Miller,
STAT,
28 Jan. 2026
That has, at least, spawned a rich stream of social media content, with wags across the world editing iconic cricket clips with the commentary coming before them.
—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Once returned to their moms, Lizzie and Bambie were all wags.
—
Nicole Villalpando,
Austin American Statesman,
23 Dec. 2025
When Cody the golden retriever was introduced to his new sibling, his owner probably would have hoped for some happy tail wags and some curious sniffs to show his curiosity.
—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Dec. 2025
Less bending for pets + slower eating habits = better digestion and more tail wags.
—
Stacia Datskovska,
Footwear News,
27 Aug. 2025
Verb
In the clip, the startled pup wags its tail and stands with the help of rescuers after it's pulled to safety.
—
Christopher Edwards,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
Yet the gas tail still wags the dog.
—
David Frykman,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
When a dog repeatedly wags and whips its tail against hard surfaces, the tip can split open, bruise or break.
—
Miriam Fauzia,
Dallas Morning News,
21 Jan. 2026
In a lot of ways, Phil is the tail that wags the dog.
—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
31 Oct. 2025
As Gino wags his finger at his estranged wife, Natalie begins to approach Jasmine.
—
Abigail Adams,
People.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Learn why the world wags and what wags it.
—
Literary Hub,
13 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wags
Noun
-
Yamal’s flicks and tricks in his 45-minute appearance were almost enough to make memories for life, while Oyarzabal should have completed his hat-trick (both players would be substituted at the break).
-
The centre-back scored six goals in 28 Bundesliga appearances on loan at Hamburg last season, including towering headers and clever backheel flicks.
Noun
-
Instead, the comedians have to develop their impromptu sets based on prompts given to them and audience interactions.
-
The event will feature Jordanian musicians, comedians, dance and food as well as a watch party for Monday’s match.
Verb
-
The music is loose and spacious, billowing like fabric that flaps at the slightest breeze.
-
The structure flaps its wings when powered by electricity.
Verb
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Mary Molloy, Arrigo’s clinical director, talks me through biodynamic therapy.
-
Volvo's chief technology officer, Anders Bell, talks to his EX60 sport utility vehicle a lot.
Verb
-
Her head bobs gently, then sharply tilts at specific moments, particularly when certain words cut through the stream of conversation.
-
Just after lunchtime on a Saturday in November, a sea of purple braids bobs in unison, barely clearing the tops of the movie-theater seats behind them.
Noun
-
An organization with its wits about it would read the room.
-
Just keep your wits about you in late summer, when the bears are hungriest and the trails are busiest.
Verb
-
Persistent muscle twitches Everyone’s muscles twitch from time to time, usually at various locations.
-
Some devices, for example, track eye movements or other small muscle twitches to let users select words from a screen.
Verb
-
For Day 5 at Ascot Racecourse, the royal wore the same Eliot Zed pumps from the day before.
-
The Griz constantly pumps the rod to get his bait darting forward and then dropping back.
Cite this Entry
“Wags.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wags. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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