1
as in reveling
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 shuffling
to roll around in an ungainly manner
We saw a herd of cattle wallowing in the marsh.
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Recent Examples of wallowing
Think of reliving moments at the Plaza Sundae from Home Alone 2 or wallowing in Churchill-era glamour at London’s Savoy Hotel.
—
Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Donald of Deliria is wallowing in brute force.
—Maureen Dowd, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026
Instead of wallowing, instead of giving up, this Hurricanes team finally learned how to finish a season.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 18 Jan. 2026
Breakups can be agonizing, even immobilizing; sometimes, wallowing is the ideal way forward.
—Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 16 Dec. 2025
Thankfully, instead of wallowing in unrequited love, the story satirizes academia and the obsession of Western literature and philosophy with hell in a really fun way.
—Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 4 Dec. 2025
But there’s no sense in wallowing in pro sports.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
Reeves is a cranky, deadpanning Estragon, wallowing in frustration as his gangly limbs swing, unwillingly turning to his friend but also welcoming the help, the hugs.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
Instead of wallowing in her misery, the movie accompanies her, like best friend Christina (Denise Gough), who checks in regularly with unconditional support.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Donald of Deliria is wallowing in brute force.
—Maureen Dowd, Mercury News, 21 Jan. 2026
Instead of wallowing, instead of giving up, this Hurricanes team finally learned how to finish a season.
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 18 Jan. 2026
Breakups can be agonizing, even immobilizing; sometimes, wallowing is the ideal way forward.
—Anna Holmes, The Atlantic, 16 Dec. 2025
Thankfully, instead of wallowing in unrequited love, the story satirizes academia and the obsession of Western literature and philosophy with hell in a really fun way.
—Brianne Kane, Scientific American, 4 Dec. 2025
But there’s no sense in wallowing in pro sports.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 22 Oct. 2025
Reeves is a cranky, deadpanning Estragon, wallowing in frustration as his gangly limbs swing, unwillingly turning to his friend but also welcoming the help, the hugs.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 29 Sep. 2025
Instead of wallowing in her misery, the movie accompanies her, like best friend Christina (Denise Gough), who checks in regularly with unconditional support.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wallowing
Verb
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Even when the locals lost faith, Villa remained focused, forever shuffling side to side and defending with the same urgency.—
Jacob Tanswell,
New York Times,
26 Jan. 2026
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Go on a street food tour Street food tours are great things to do in Sicily and a fabulous alternative to hours of shuffling through museums.—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The Animal Collective member’s first solo album is a personal, psychedelic trip indulging his fascination with the hurdy-gurdy.—
Zach Schonfeld,
Pitchfork,
30 Jan. 2026
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Battambang province is Cambodia’s agricultural heartland and, aside from indulging at the local markets, one of the best ways to experience its culinary heritage is getting into the countryside.—
Vicky Smith,
Forbes.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Behind him, the procession slowly comes to rest, their candles swaying in the night air.—
Cecilia Rodriguez,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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Australian scientists believe increasingly crowded waters and rising ocean temperatures are swaying sharks' migratory patterns, which may be contributing to a rise in attacks.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But Florida, basking in warmth this weekend with highs that shoot into the 80s, can look to the cold weather in other states as a taste of what’s to come.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2026
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But there’s a reason that the Ranch’s Ocean Rooms and Coast Suites are particularly popular, with their private patios outfitted with a basking tub for two (set to your preferred temperature), and of course, expansive views of the ocean and coastline.—
Lauren Sloss,
Condé Nast Traveler,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While a win over struggling Rutgers, which has lost five in a row, isn’t the biggest addition to USC’s résumé, every win in Big Ten play is critical for the Trojans, who hope to build their case for an NCAA tournament berth.—
Sean Campbell,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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Our state government is struggling to pass audits, electric rates are rising and, despite Moore’s sunny pronouncements, the cost of rebuilding the Key Bridge has exploded from less than 2 billion to more than 5 billion dollars.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wallowing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wallowing. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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