Thesaurus results for WAVES

waves 1 of 2

noun

plural of wave

as in swells

a moving ridge on the surface of water the toddler was almost knocked down by the waves created by the speedboat

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waves

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of wave

as in motions

to direct or notify by a movement or gesture waved them over to the side of the road

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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 waves

Noun

That has left oil supplies being released in intermittent waves, rather than returning to the stable, steady flow seen in the past. — CNBC, 10 Aug. 2026 The researchers studied erbium tritelluride, a rare-earth material whose electrons can spontaneously organize into wave-like patterns known as charge density waves (CDWs). — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Aug. 2026 The heat waves roiling Western Europe this summer toppled an average temperature record for the June-July period set in 2022, according to the European climate agency Copernicus. — ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026 Choose from eight lighting modes, including waves, slow fade, twinkle, and steady on, and rest easy knowing the IP65 waterproof construction has your back when the weather goes south. — Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Aug. 2026 Now, well into its fifth year, Russian soldiers struggle to advance through waves of Ukrainian drones across the fields of the Donbas. — David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 9 Aug. 2026 Reports that federal immigration enforcement agencies have accessed Flock data, dozens of officers have abused the system to stalk women, and police have logged hundreds of searches related to protest activity sparked successive waves of backlash. — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2026 The Morton Amphitheater was filled up from the front to the grass in the back, filled with fans who grew up on Ne-Yo and Akon, and fans who may not have been alive when some of their biggest songs hit the air waves. — Rashad Alexander august 8, Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2026 So that would mean two waves of long-term supply, converging, with fewer buyers. — Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 8 Aug. 2026

Verb

The Spa At the beach-level spa, the windows were left wide open during my 60-minute Salt Air Reset massage, making all-natural birdsong and waves the soundtrack of my treatment. — Katie Nanton, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2026 My son waves his hands through my light and laughs and laughs. — Literary Hub, 20 July 2026 Ferrari is wary of a culture that diagnoses and labels nearly everything, and equally wary of the backlash that waves off deeper work as just talking. — Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 15 July 2026 Luke offers to change Nathan’s, but the bosun waves away the offer. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 July 2026 Not to the American fan who calls it soccer, waves the flag and doesn't apologize for loving his country. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 June 2026 Daddy Yankee waves the Puerto Rican flag on a float during the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City on June 14. — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026 The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said tsunami waves up to 10 feet were possible on some coasts of the Philippines. — CBS News, 7 June 2026 Rolling often waves to his regulars from the wheelhouse, and recently passengers have started recognizing him, too — and not just for captaining their commute. — Julia Press, Bloomberg, 22 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waves

Noun

All bus services in the city were canceled, authorities said, while ferry services between New Zealand’s North and South islands were suspended because of strong winds and heavy swells.

— Reuters, NBC news, 5 Aug. 2026
Coastal areas have also seen dangerous rip currents and elevated surf in recent weeks amid multiple southerly swells, most recently due to Tropical Storm Genevieve.

— Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 3 Aug. 2026