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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waving
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, 10 Apr. 2026
Nearly all get delivered by McKellen’s Julian, waving a champagne coupe while monologuing about humidifiers, cancel culture and a doctor who smells like radishes.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Turn to face the shore, tread water, and signal for help by shouting or waving your arms.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
Brandon Valenzuela went after a high fastball of his own, waving at a pitch above the zone for a strikeout.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
While state media showed images of jubilant crowds waving flags in the streets, Parvaz says that for many, the ceasefire signals the end of any hope of real regime change.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 8 Apr. 2026
Later on Tuesday, videos emerged on social media depicting Iranians standing in a chain in front of the Kazeroon power plant, waving the Iranian flag.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
Lorincz was also reportedly overheard yelling at the children and seen waving an umbrella at them.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 7 Apr. 2026
The procession opened with a young boy waving a Mexican flag.
—Laura Turbay, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Noun
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
The pillar artwork features a waving Pope Leo XIV, along with a picture from the TV broadcast of the future pope sitting with good friend Ed Schmit and his grandson, Eddie.
—ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Nearly all get delivered by McKellen’s Julian, waving a champagne coupe while monologuing about humidifiers, cancel culture and a doctor who smells like radishes.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Turn to face the shore, tread water, and signal for help by shouting or waving your arms.
—Nc Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 Apr. 2026
Brandon Valenzuela went after a high fastball of his own, waving at a pitch above the zone for a strikeout.
—Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2026
While state media showed images of jubilant crowds waving flags in the streets, Parvaz says that for many, the ceasefire signals the end of any hope of real regime change.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 8 Apr. 2026
Later on Tuesday, videos emerged on social media depicting Iranians standing in a chain in front of the Kazeroon power plant, waving the Iranian flag.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 7 Apr. 2026
Lorincz was also reportedly overheard yelling at the children and seen waving an umbrella at them.
—Lynsey Eidell, PEOPLE, 7 Apr. 2026
The procession opened with a young boy waving a Mexican flag.
—Laura Turbay, Chicago Tribune, 3 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waving
Noun
-
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
-
The doll also was given articulated elbows and wrists to acknowledge stimming, hand flapping and other gestures that some autistic people use to process sensory information or to express excitement, according to Mattel.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Meanwhile, Soler and López began trading words, with López seemingly motioning at Soler to do something.—
Johnny Flores Jr,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2026
-
The federal government intensified efforts to expand family detention indefinitely by motioning to terminate a cornerstone policy ensuring the protection of immigrant children in federal custody.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 Apr. 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 two talked for more than 10 minutes, taking turns gesturing pointedly.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
19 Mar. 2026
-
There in Bauhus’s office, a cuckoo springs out of the little house on the wall—that sleek, modern clock, missing the detail of tradition but still gesturing at something.—
Kendra Atleework,
Longreads,
12 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waving. Accessed 15 Apr. 2026.
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