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
Scott Laird, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2026
The outlooks, published every six hours throughout the season, flag tropical waves or potential disturbances that the center is watching for potential development.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Finger food at Farol, the duplex bar and cafe shaped like a lighthouse by the pool, is an easy way to lure the kids out of the pool or waves for nourishment.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 May 2026
So, perhaps the message is just don’t make no waves.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Kohlmann says every device should soon have a unique root password, one that Yarbo won’t provide to end users; firmware updates have already rolled out to the first 1,000 machines and are coming to additional waves of robots.
—Sean Hollister, The Verge, 11 May 2026
Financially dependent on her parents throughout her youth and confused by waves of calm or small kindnesses, Gross wrestled with distancing herself for some time before cutting contact with her parents and brothers as an adult.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
The lapping waves that arrive shortly thereafter are an alarming detour, but their presence quickly feels normal.
—Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
The damage is reverberating across Iran’s economy, threatening increasing waves of layoffs, even as Iranians face skyrocketing prices.
—Amir-Hussein Radjy, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Alexander Smith, NBC news, 19 Apr. 2026
At the end of the video, Williams proposes to Laufey as her guest stars watch on with vacant expressions — even as the Grammy winner waves her hands in front of their faces.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Based on the Tacoma pickup, the midsize 4Runner still waves the flag for the traditional SUV fans who want real off-road performance.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
The snowy-haired Scot waves me into the passenger seat of his Can-Am Traxter with a huge grin and navigates us through the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it town, famously anchored by mainland Britain’s most remote pub, the Old Forge.
—Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2026
Every now and again, a brand-new book waves its knowing hand.
—Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 11 Feb. 2026
Dancer Natalie Reid approaches to take the barstool beside her, but Swift waves her away because the seat is reserved for her stone.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
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
Noun
For its part, Viking is making waves in the South Atlantic, a region that rarely sees repositioning cruises.
—Scott Laird, Travel + Leisure, 12 May 2026
The outlooks, published every six hours throughout the season, flag tropical waves or potential disturbances that the center is watching for potential development.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 12 May 2026
Finger food at Farol, the duplex bar and cafe shaped like a lighthouse by the pool, is an easy way to lure the kids out of the pool or waves for nourishment.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 May 2026
So, perhaps the message is just don’t make no waves.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026
Kohlmann says every device should soon have a unique root password, one that Yarbo won’t provide to end users; firmware updates have already rolled out to the first 1,000 machines and are coming to additional waves of robots.
—Sean Hollister, The Verge, 11 May 2026
Financially dependent on her parents throughout her youth and confused by waves of calm or small kindnesses, Gross wrestled with distancing herself for some time before cutting contact with her parents and brothers as an adult.
—Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
The lapping waves that arrive shortly thereafter are an alarming detour, but their presence quickly feels normal.
—Joshua Minsoo Kim, Pitchfork, 28 Apr. 2026
The damage is reverberating across Iran’s economy, threatening increasing waves of layoffs, even as Iranians face skyrocketing prices.
—Amir-Hussein Radjy, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
Prime Minister-elect Peter Magyar waves a Hungarian flag after delivering his victory speech in Budapest on Sunday.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 19 Apr. 2026
At the end of the video, Williams proposes to Laufey as her guest stars watch on with vacant expressions — even as the Grammy winner waves her hands in front of their faces.
—Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Based on the Tacoma pickup, the midsize 4Runner still waves the flag for the traditional SUV fans who want real off-road performance.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
The snowy-haired Scot waves me into the passenger seat of his Can-Am Traxter with a huge grin and navigates us through the blink-and-you’ll-miss-it town, famously anchored by mainland Britain’s most remote pub, the Old Forge.
—Jen Murphy, Robb Report, 4 Apr. 2026
Every now and again, a brand-new book waves its knowing hand.
—Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 11 Feb. 2026
Dancer Natalie Reid approaches to take the barstool beside her, but Swift waves her away because the seat is reserved for her stone.
—Bryan West, USA Today, 6 Feb. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waves
Noun
-
The most harrowing experience of the crew’s Pacific crossing came a few days into the row when huge swells brought seasickness and harsh conditions.—
Patrick Connolly,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Less than a day earlier, astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen had been plucked from 3-foot swells by helicopters and transported them roughly one mile to the USS Murtha.—
Gary Robbins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But Friday’s announcement signals the health system’s intent to more aggressively grow its academic programs.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
15 May 2026
-
Remove anything that signals scarcity thinking or desperation energy.—
Jodie Cook,
Forbes.com,
15 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waves.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waves. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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