as in swells
a moving ridge on the surface of water
the toddler was almost knocked down by the waves created by the speedboat
Synonyms & Similar Words
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as in motions
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture
waved them over to the side of the road
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waves
George Caulkin, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Small pups get the first splash, followed by bigger dogs ready to make waves.
—Tiffani Jackson Skinner, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
But the actress is making enough waves in Hollywood to pay attention.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
The youngest of those sisters, Rosa, is played by the aforementioned Charli xcx, contributing a serviceable performance that doesn’t demand much of her apart from the need to look ravishingly exotic and rocking her famous mane of brunette waves.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
Lake Michigan is forecast to see the highest waves — up to 14 feet high along the Manistee, Oceana, Muskegon and Mason county shorelines — though waves are expected to be 9 feet in the afternoon.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Sure, there were attacks and counterattacks and waves of soldiers traversing across No Man’s Land.
—Michael Jerome Plunkett
september 5, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
Learn to Surf One of the world’s best surfers was born and raised on Cocoa Beach waves—Kelly Slater.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
Because the friction caused by waves that slightly interfere is slightly less stable than the coherent state when waves seamlessly add up.
—Ginny Whitelaw, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
In Lake Michigan, beach-goers from Manistee County south to Berrien County should beware of strong rip currents, waves up to 6 feet high and gusts reaching 25 knots (28 mph).
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 29 Aug. 2025
In Michigan, waves up to five feet high are possible by late Tuesday evening in Berrien county.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Much of Israel’s viewing public knows that something terrible is taking place in Gaza, but waves it away.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2025
Noun
There are so many runners to filter through to the start line in their coloured waves that by the time the last pairs of feet have set off, the elite athletes have long finished.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 6 Sep. 2025
Small pups get the first splash, followed by bigger dogs ready to make waves.
—Tiffani Jackson Skinner, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
But the actress is making enough waves in Hollywood to pay attention.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
The youngest of those sisters, Rosa, is played by the aforementioned Charli xcx, contributing a serviceable performance that doesn’t demand much of her apart from the need to look ravishingly exotic and rocking her famous mane of brunette waves.
—Leslie Felperin, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2025
Lake Michigan is forecast to see the highest waves — up to 14 feet high along the Manistee, Oceana, Muskegon and Mason county shorelines — though waves are expected to be 9 feet in the afternoon.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Sure, there were attacks and counterattacks and waves of soldiers traversing across No Man’s Land.
—Michael Jerome Plunkett
september 5, Literary Hub, 5 Sep. 2025
Learn to Surf One of the world’s best surfers was born and raised on Cocoa Beach waves—Kelly Slater.
—Kelsey Glennon, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025
Because the friction caused by waves that slightly interfere is slightly less stable than the coherent state when waves seamlessly add up.
—Ginny Whitelaw, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Verb
After the Hunt star Andrew Garfield waves to attendees of the red carpet premiere of the film in Venice on Friday.
—Tim Lammers, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025
In Lake Michigan, beach-goers from Manistee County south to Berrien County should beware of strong rip currents, waves up to 6 feet high and gusts reaching 25 knots (28 mph).
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 29 Aug. 2025
In Michigan, waves up to five feet high are possible by late Tuesday evening in Berrien county.
—Matthew Robinson, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 Aug. 2025
Much of Israel’s viewing public knows that something terrible is taking place in Gaza, but waves it away.
—Ruth Margalit, New Yorker, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waves
Noun
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Kiritehere is a black sand beach, wild and prone to powerful swells that amateur surfers dare not attempt.—
Todd Symons,
CNN Money,
9 Sep. 2025
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Dangerous conditions from the building swells will be concentrated along the eastern shores of the islands, forecasters said.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
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For her performance about an hour later, Gaga returned on video from MSG and in the middle of the red and black motif that signals the opening of her Mayhem Ball tour.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
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Fall in Michigan means less and less daylight as the season goes on and for many that signals the start of seasonal mental health struggles, though coping strategies can help, experts say.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waves. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
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