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

Hatchlings emerge from their eggs with a temporary store of energy from the yolk sac that powers their first trip past breaking waves into the sea. — Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026 Kate styled her long chestnut-colored hair in a half-up, half-down ‘do with soft waves and wore rosy makeup. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 25 Sep. 2026 The Spanish technology uses a series of mechanical modules to push water and generate waves that can be adjusted for different surfing abilities. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 25 Sep. 2026 The storm surge could hit 1 to 3 feet, creating large and dangerous waves and coastal flooding, the hurricane center said. — Eugene Garcia, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026 Rain and strong winds had already started to pummel the coast, with waves crashing onto the normally pristine beaches. — Megan Janetsky, Arkansas Online, 24 Sep. 2026 Their experiment shows how magnetic waves inside the material can imprint microwave signals onto laser light. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 18 Sep. 2026 Gay Rogers, who has lived with the flooding for 50 years, said speeding cars regularly send waves of water splashing to her front door, leaving trash scattered across her lawn. — Joan Murray, CBS News, 18 Sep. 2026 With these over-performing beauty tools, our foundation, blush, curls, and waves have never had it so good. — Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 17 Sep. 2026

Verb

Picture a doorman who checks your ID with great care, then waves you into any apartment in the building. — Julian Durand, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waves

Noun

The hurricanes are not expected to hit California but could send swells toward the California coast as early as Sunday, forecasters have told The Times.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 25 Sep. 2026
The surf-worthy Pacific swells provide excellent conditions for paddling out and riding waves.

— Staff Author, Travel + Leisure, 17 Sep. 2026

Definition of swells

Verb

For an increasing number of young people, nothing signals your values like a willingness to kill others for them.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Sep. 2026
Boring Company signals its interest TBC would be excited and honored to build this massive infrastructure project.

— Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2026