as in flapping
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as in motioning
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture
waved them over to the side of the road
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Recent Examples of waving
ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
But the flag-waving takes on a different meaning in his tweet, making Sosa part of the propaganda machine.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
The flag-waving, the face paint, the pugnacious songs, the banners, the bellicose taunts at the opponents, the arms flung out in unison foster a collective spirit that can turn violent at times.
—Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Flag waving, immigration restriction, and culture-war rallying cries can shore up the MAGA-tech coalition, but more will be needed to achieve lasting success.
—Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
Assuming whatever creature birthed from a spider egg was also a shapeshifter would even allow the show to bring back everyone’s favorite dancing clown in a modern-day context without too much hand-waving.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025
Some 65,000 fans reveling in SDFC’s six goals scored and vibing off the supporter groups’ chants, drum-banging and flag-waving.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025
Males and females both wave their legs and the waving was not related to courtship or competition.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
In an interview with the Observer, Page acknowledged that the department’s initial claim that Manigault came into the store waving a gun was not correct.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 May 2026
Petronella was seen waving from a window.
—Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 20 May 2026
The 79-year-old Markey, who faces a tough reelection fight this year and whose job approval rating has taken a big dip, was not embarrassed to be dancing and waving the Haitian flag at City Hall Plaza in order to secure a few thousand votes at best.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 19 May 2026
Meghan, who arrived wearing the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau tiara from Queen Elizabeth's collection, was captured waving to the crowds alongside mom Doria Ragland.
—Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
Herb Dean was on it immediately, waving off the fight before any unnecessary follow-up damage.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Hundreds of spectators gathered along Ocean Boulevard dressed in rainbow tutus, dresses and shirts, whooping and waving as the Long Beach Pride parade rolled past Sunday morning.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
Instead, it is filled with a froth of virtual particles becoming real in pairs, waving to us, annihilating each other, and sinking back into the soup of virtual particles.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
Noun
It also has been roiled by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, stirring protests outside the venues and forcing organizers to clamp down on political flag-waving.
—ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026
But the flag-waving takes on a different meaning in his tweet, making Sosa part of the propaganda machine.
—Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 8 Mar. 2026
The flag-waving, the face paint, the pugnacious songs, the banners, the bellicose taunts at the opponents, the arms flung out in unison foster a collective spirit that can turn violent at times.
—Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026
Flag waving, immigration restriction, and culture-war rallying cries can shore up the MAGA-tech coalition, but more will be needed to achieve lasting success.
—Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
Assuming whatever creature birthed from a spider egg was also a shapeshifter would even allow the show to bring back everyone’s favorite dancing clown in a modern-day context without too much hand-waving.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025
Some 65,000 fans reveling in SDFC’s six goals scored and vibing off the supporter groups’ chants, drum-banging and flag-waving.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025
Males and females both wave their legs and the waving was not related to courtship or competition.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
This year, soca star Voice — who had Carnival crowds jumping and waving throughout the 2026 circuit — will make his festival debut.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026
In an interview with the Observer, Page acknowledged that the department’s initial claim that Manigault came into the store waving a gun was not correct.
—Charlotte Observer, 20 May 2026
Petronella was seen waving from a window.
—Tom Dougherty, CBS News, 20 May 2026
The 79-year-old Markey, who faces a tough reelection fight this year and whose job approval rating has taken a big dip, was not embarrassed to be dancing and waving the Haitian flag at City Hall Plaza in order to secure a few thousand votes at best.
—Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 19 May 2026
Meghan, who arrived wearing the Queen Mary Diamond Bandeau tiara from Queen Elizabeth's collection, was captured waving to the crowds alongside mom Doria Ragland.
—Nicole Briese, PEOPLE, 19 May 2026
Herb Dean was on it immediately, waving off the fight before any unnecessary follow-up damage.
—Brian Mazique, Forbes.com, 17 May 2026
Hundreds of spectators gathered along Ocean Boulevard dressed in rainbow tutus, dresses and shirts, whooping and waving as the Long Beach Pride parade rolled past Sunday morning.
—Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2026
Instead, it is filled with a froth of virtual particles becoming real in pairs, waving to us, annihilating each other, and sinking back into the soup of virtual particles.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waving
Noun
-
With the skin flapping, his words, not mine, the medical staff went full MacGyver on Buckberger.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Somatic shaking can look a little different from one person to the next, but usually involves a few minutes of wildly uncoordinated jumping, arm flapping, and foot stomping.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Anunoby was having another strong game Wednesday before appearing to suffer a leg injury and motioning to come out of the game.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
-
Anunoby was having another strong game Wednesday before appearing to suffer a leg injury and motioning to come out of the game.—
CBS New York Team,
CBS News,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
For all his bobbing and flailing, and sensitive shaping of the music, conductor Christian Capocaccia evinced little attention to singers.—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Apr. 2026
-
But his role was not to fix a flailing business, but, rather, to keep a roaring flame alive.—
José Criales-Unzueta,
Vanity Fair,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Leaning over the side of a small speedboat, Jhon Cantillo scoops up a thick clump of bright green vegetation, holding it up before gesturing toward the horizon, where the plant spreads across the waters as far as the eye can see.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
12 May 2026
-
There was at times much gesturing about his hands.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waving. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
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