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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waving
Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 14 May 2026
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
ABC News, 12 June 2026
He can be seen throwing his helmet off and waving his arms after Lugo went down.
—Zach Dean, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
People were singing, beating drums, waving green flags and celebrating together.
—Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 11 June 2026
Similar scenes were seen in New York City where supporters spilled onto the streets after the game, chanting and waving the team’s flags as some jumped onto cars and climbed onto lampposts.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 11 June 2026
The flag waving at the side of the monument is the Bavarian one and not the more familiar Nazi flag.
—Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 11 June 2026
Late-night host and New York City native Jimmy Fallon was seen waving his Knicks flag in the air alongside rapper Fat Joe as the team completed its amazing comeback.
—Clare Fisher, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
In another video, a group of men, one waving a Palestinian flag, jump onto a yellow cab, shattering the windshield.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026
Baba Tree’s waving Pakurigo baskets are the perfect side table statement and the right Ikebana basket can add height wherever needed.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 11 June 2026
Noun
With his own future still unconfirmed, Guardiola could be seen pumping his fists in celebration when Rayan Cherki slipped in the third goal and, after the final whistle, there was a victory walk around the pitch and a lot of affectionate waving and kiss-blowing.
—Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 14 May 2026
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
In both cases, Spanish military aircraft provided an airborne escort, a sign of respect for visiting dignitaries, and in one clip of the video Leo is seen waving to the escorting pilot.
—ABC News, 12 June 2026
He can be seen throwing his helmet off and waving his arms after Lugo went down.
—Zach Dean, FOXNews.com, 12 June 2026
People were singing, beating drums, waving green flags and celebrating together.
—Greg O'Keeffe, New York Times, 11 June 2026
Similar scenes were seen in New York City where supporters spilled onto the streets after the game, chanting and waving the team’s flags as some jumped onto cars and climbed onto lampposts.
—Yuliya Talmazan, NBC news, 11 June 2026
The flag waving at the side of the monument is the Bavarian one and not the more familiar Nazi flag.
—Margherita Bassi, Popular Science, 11 June 2026
Late-night host and New York City native Jimmy Fallon was seen waving his Knicks flag in the air alongside rapper Fat Joe as the team completed its amazing comeback.
—Clare Fisher, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026
In another video, a group of men, one waving a Palestinian flag, jump onto a yellow cab, shattering the windshield.
—Thomas Tracy, New York Daily News, 11 June 2026
Baba Tree’s waving Pakurigo baskets are the perfect side table statement and the right Ikebana basket can add height wherever needed.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 11 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waving
Noun
-
Nearly two months old, the birds spend much of their days hopping, flapping, stomping and testing out their wings, a recent Facebook post from Friends of Big Bear Valley, the nonprofit that operates their live cam, says.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
1 June 2026
-
With the skin flapping, his words, not mine, the medical staff went full MacGyver on Buckberger.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Gary Belaria said, motioning toward the parking lot.—
Camryn Dadey,
Sacbee.com,
2 June 2026
-
Officers were able to observe surveillance camera recordings which showed Moskovita motioning the girl toward him, then grabbing her hand and taking her into the restroom.—
Logan Smith,
CBS News,
1 June 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
-
The premise means that almost the entire episode is free of dialogue, with the characters communicating by writing on chalkboards and gesturing.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
7 June 2026
-
Grande asks, gesturing to the loop station.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
7 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waving. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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