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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Williams said he was hit with two or three more waves and was focused on keeping Nathaniel out of the water before another lifeguard, identified as Aaron Bohnen, got in the water to help. — Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 3 Aug. 2026 Through the sliding glass door, the morning mist burned off the green waves of corn. — Rachel Yoder, New Yorker, 2 Aug. 2026 Her hair was worn in signature blown out waves that picked up the caramel shades in her long brunette hair, her parting swept slightly to the side. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 2 Aug. 2026 To the tune of softly lapping waves, The Inn at Langley revealed its cards slowly in the way quiet luxury tends to do. — Katie Nanton, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2026 Panic has spread that all Coldcard wallets could be at risk, with waves of attacks continuing. — Billy Bambrough, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 For waves traveling in one valley, the material acted like an open channel that freely guided light forward. — Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 1 Aug. 2026 Breaking waves will reach up to 10 feet along some south and southwest facing beaches and break points. — Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 28 July 2026 This will become the third tropical system to send waves to California in about three weeks. — Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 July 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

O’Shea said the El Niño pattern, combined with swells, could produce elevated surf throughout the summer.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 1 Aug. 2026
The footage shows the rookie lifeguard, just 16 years old, holding onto a limp child as massive swells repeatedly pound the duo.

— Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026

Definition of swells

Verb

That designation typically signals a stop at Telluride over Labor Day weekend, though the Colorado festival does not announce its lineup until the eve of the event.

— Clayton Davis, Variety, 30 July 2026
To some policy experts, the trend signals the victory of one philosophy of taxation over another.

— Daniel de Visé, USA Today, 30 July 2026