as in burrow
a sunken and often wet area like that used by animals to roll in
The pig seemed happy to lie in its muddy wallow.
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1
as in to revel
to completely give (oneself) over to something (such as an emotion)
After being laid off, he spent much of his time wallowing in self-pity. They wallowed in all the indulgences provided by the resort.
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2
as in to shuffle
to roll around in an ungainly manner
We saw a herd of cattle wallowing in the marsh.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wallow
Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025
The Harris hotel site was a steep elevation above the creek, with a mud wallow in front of it.
—Dan Kelly, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2025
Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 23 May 2026
Most like to be clean, although wallowing in the mud does help keep them cool and protected from insects and the sun.
—Kansas City Star, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for wallow
Noun
The show is an eccentric wallow through the morgue of history.
—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 27 Apr. 2025
The Harris hotel site was a steep elevation above the creek, with a mud wallow in front of it.
—Dan Kelly, Kansas City Star, 26 Jan. 2025
Verb
She isn’t being morbid or wallowing in sadness; she’s inspired by a practice in Bhutan aimed at cultivating happiness and reducing anxiety about mortality — by thinking about death five times a day.
—Madeline Holcombe, CNN Money, 23 May 2026
Most like to be clean, although wallowing in the mud does help keep them cool and protected from insects and the sun.
—Kansas City Star, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for wallow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wallow
Noun
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Unlike typical maggots, which consume dead or decaying tissue, screwworm larvae burrow into wounds and feed on healthy tissue, causing severe damage.—
Tori Mason,
CBS News,
12 June 2026
-
The screwworm lays eggs in open wounds, and then larvae burrow and eat the host.—
Eva Flowe
June 12,
Charlotte Observer,
12 June 2026
Verb
-
The pair sequester themselves in a shed while guests revel outside in the sunshine.—
Inkoo Kang,
New Yorker,
24 Apr. 2026
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Nebraska fans with seats around the tunnel spotted them, because thousands of Nebraska fans were still in their seats, reveling, the music still thumping in the arena, as if some kind of encore would be happening.—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Manager John Schneider is now forced to shuffle players like Andrés Gimenez and Ernie Clement at shortstop, often platooning Gimenez, and inserting lesser hitters at second base.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
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After about 10 minutes of sitting frozen in place, the seven-year-old shuffled out of the room with his mother, sister and grandmother.—
Grant Stringer,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Workers repairing a ha-ha, a ditch traditionally used to contain livestock without interrupting the view across an estate, uncovered a tunnel entrance, along with Tudor-era artifacts including pottery, bones, and glass bottles.—
Anne Doran,
ARTnews.com,
15 June 2026
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If unable to reach a secure shelter, either crouch down in your car, covering your head, or abandon the vehicle and seek refuge in a low-lying area like a ditch or ravine.—
KANSAS CITY STAR WEATHER BOT,
Kansas City Star,
14 June 2026
Verb
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The facilities also include a Candy Spa that offers kid-friendly treatments like manicures and pedicures so the little ones can keep themselves engaged while parents indulge themselves.—
Deeya Sonalkar,
TheWeek,
18 June 2026
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As Venus and Uranus harmonize, permit yourself to indulge a forbidden desire.—
USA TODAY,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
Verb
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But listening to Magazine—their new 10-track, 11-minute album—that artful density becomes singular, swaying as much as whipping between its frantic ideas.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
12 June 2026
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On the outskirts of Vịnh Mốc, bamboo trees sway in the wind above a line of streetfood shacks.—
Pavlo Fedykovych,
CNN Money,
12 June 2026
Noun
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Forecast guidance suggests a trough of low pressure currently over northeastern Mexico may drift toward the Texas coast before potentially emerging over the Gulf.—
Brandi D. Addison,
USA Today,
15 June 2026
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Due to the size of the trough, Scott recommends starting with a layer of rocks at the bottom, followed by a layer of manure, and then adding soil on top.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
13 June 2026
Verb
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Plant yourself along the two miles of pristine white sand beaches, bask in the butterfly garden, or explore the 28 miles of trails and the nature center.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
17 June 2026
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Fans also basked in the outcome, with objectively much more difficult scenarios — on paper, anyway — avoided.—
Tom Bogert,
New York Times,
16 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wallow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wallow. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.
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