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
Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The goal is to build a mini-forest of mangroves that buffer the campus from waves and high tides, help clean the water and provide a habitat for the manatees, tarpon and other wildlife that are regularly spotted in the area.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Robbie’s go-to stylist Bryce Scarlett shared a closer look at her waist-grazing waves on Instagram, this time paired with a ruby statement choker and a different black long-sleeve dress.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 27 Jan. 2026
Founded by Sam Payrovi and Nathalie Paiva in 2021, Arkhaus first made waves by building a floating members’ club with four of Arkup’s solar-electric yachts.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 27 Jan. 2026
By contrast, South Africa faced waves of white flight in the early 1960s, during the late 1970s, and throughout the 1980s.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
During the Blitz, nightly waves of German bombers were sent to destroy the docks.
—Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
But blizzard conditions from its strong winds are in the mix, along with damaging waves and surf for much of the eastern coastline.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
In two waves conducted in 2022 and, again, in 2025, the researchers used various archaeological and computerized imaging techniques to resurface the lost messages.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Altman almost waves away these grim tolls as an inevitable consequence of the product’s popularity.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 21 Jan. 2026
Good, in the driver’s seat, waves cars past her.
—Frank Matt, NBC news, 9 Jan. 2026
One of the all-time greatest Stranger Things moments occurs when Dipshit Derek excitedly waves at his new best friend, Mike Wheeler.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 1 Jan. 2026
On Lake Huron, waves up to 17 feet high are expected Tuesday.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 16 Dec. 2025
When Charlene waves him off, indicating the plan was a trap, Chris’s world collapses.
—Jesse Raub, The Atlantic, 15 Dec. 2025
But Lawson waves off the attention, shifting the spotlight back to his friends on the shelves.
—Mara Weinraub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Nov. 2025
In Cờ Đỏ village, a group of men waves us over from a porch shaded by banana trees.
—Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Nov. 2025
Noun
Lake Superior and Lake Michigan are expected to experience high waves and damaging ice accumulation onto vessels, and central Michigan is under a flood warning due to ice jams that could obstruct the waterways, causing flooding, according to the NWS.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 27 Jan. 2026
The goal is to build a mini-forest of mangroves that buffer the campus from waves and high tides, help clean the water and provide a habitat for the manatees, tarpon and other wildlife that are regularly spotted in the area.
—Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 27 Jan. 2026
Robbie’s go-to stylist Bryce Scarlett shared a closer look at her waist-grazing waves on Instagram, this time paired with a ruby statement choker and a different black long-sleeve dress.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 27 Jan. 2026
Founded by Sam Payrovi and Nathalie Paiva in 2021, Arkhaus first made waves by building a floating members’ club with four of Arkup’s solar-electric yachts.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 27 Jan. 2026
By contrast, South Africa faced waves of white flight in the early 1960s, during the late 1970s, and throughout the 1980s.
—Eve Fairbanks, The Dial, 27 Jan. 2026
During the Blitz, nightly waves of German bombers were sent to destroy the docks.
—Hari Kunzru, Harpers Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
But blizzard conditions from its strong winds are in the mix, along with damaging waves and surf for much of the eastern coastline.
—Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 27 Jan. 2026
In two waves conducted in 2022 and, again, in 2025, the researchers used various archaeological and computerized imaging techniques to resurface the lost messages.
—Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 20 Jan. 2026
Verb
The agent who appeared to be de-escalating a separate agent turns attention to the agent deploying pepper spray and waves him down.
—Taylor Seely, AZCentral.com, 28 Jan. 2026
Altman almost waves away these grim tolls as an inevitable consequence of the product’s popularity.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 21 Jan. 2026
Good, in the driver’s seat, waves cars past her.
—Frank Matt, NBC news, 9 Jan. 2026
One of the all-time greatest Stranger Things moments occurs when Dipshit Derek excitedly waves at his new best friend, Mike Wheeler.
—Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 1 Jan. 2026
On Lake Huron, waves up to 17 feet high are expected Tuesday.
—Sarah Moore, Freep.com, 16 Dec. 2025
When Charlene waves him off, indicating the plan was a trap, Chris’s world collapses.
—Jesse Raub, The Atlantic, 15 Dec. 2025
But Lawson waves off the attention, shifting the spotlight back to his friends on the shelves.
—Mara Weinraub, Bon Appetit Magazine, 24 Nov. 2025
In Cờ Đỏ village, a group of men waves us over from a porch shaded by banana trees.
—Chris Schalkx, Condé Nast Traveler, 14 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waves
Noun
-
Even as the contestants arrive to begin the season, an important rowing portion of today's marooning challenge remains up in the air due to tumultuous swells.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Farther north in the Bay Area, a powerful combination of abnormally high king tides, large swells caused by a storm hanging out in the eastern Pacific, and rainfall across the region has led to coastal flooding.—
Deborah Netburn,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The music signals the end of their conversation and the start of a dance between the attendees of the ball, and continues as Benedict takes Sophie to the private terrace to teach her how to dance.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
-
While a yellow placard signals two or more major violations, these are typically corrected or mitigated during the inspection, according to the Sacramento County Retail Food Inspection Guide.—
Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado
January 30,
Sacbee.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waves. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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