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
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
Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
There, Brandon became known for his ongoing investigation into air pollution at a paper mill part-owned by NFL owner Robert Kraft, including his attempt to get an interview with Kraft by waving down his police motorcade.
—CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Hamblin then went to the driver side of his minivan, retrieved a black handgun and started waving it at the coach and a group of people standing with him.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Feb. 2026
Ma strides about the room, waving incense.
—Molly Aitken, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
Apparently, having an adult male with more than his guy thighs exposed, waving at children from a rooftop in a diaper and cape is frowned upon.
—Mark Glende, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
After waving my hair with a 1-inch curling wand, Toth sprayed my strands (from the top, aiming downward) with the Shu Uemura Moya Hold Finishing Hair Spray to keep them smooth.
—Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, 31 Jan. 2026
As the clock advanced deeper into stoppage time, suddenly, arms started waving everywhere.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Though smaller than the first, protesters filled the streets again, chanting and waving signs and banners.
—Raul Trey Lopez, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Jan. 2026
Noun
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
Footage obtained by affiliate FOX 11 Los Angeles showed students marching down the street, waving large Mexican flags and signs while toting backpacks.
—Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 5 Feb. 2026
There, Brandon became known for his ongoing investigation into air pollution at a paper mill part-owned by NFL owner Robert Kraft, including his attempt to get an interview with Kraft by waving down his police motorcade.
—CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Hamblin then went to the driver side of his minivan, retrieved a black handgun and started waving it at the coach and a group of people standing with him.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Feb. 2026
Ma strides about the room, waving incense.
—Molly Aitken, New Yorker, 1 Feb. 2026
Apparently, having an adult male with more than his guy thighs exposed, waving at children from a rooftop in a diaper and cape is frowned upon.
—Mark Glende, Twin Cities, 1 Feb. 2026
After waving my hair with a 1-inch curling wand, Toth sprayed my strands (from the top, aiming downward) with the Shu Uemura Moya Hold Finishing Hair Spray to keep them smooth.
—Jesa Marie Calaor, Allure, 31 Jan. 2026
As the clock advanced deeper into stoppage time, suddenly, arms started waving everywhere.
—Nick Miller, New York Times, 31 Jan. 2026
Though smaller than the first, protesters filled the streets again, chanting and waving signs and banners.
—Raul Trey Lopez, San Antonio Express-News, 31 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waving
Noun
-
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
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The doll also was given articulated elbows and wrists to acknowledge stimming, hand flapping and other gestures that some people with autism use to process sensory information or to express excitement, according to Mattel.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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With the game well out of reach and 10 seconds to play, Tre White dunked — despite Self motioning from the sideline to dribble it out.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Good appears to be motioning to them with her hands.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And so too is his slightly flailing, vaguely desperate, going-for-it run, typified by his hair falling out of place and the sense that this man is fundamentally, for all his money and celebrity, some guy trying to get from one place to another.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
5 Dec. 2025
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Morant appears to be at odds with Memphis brass, and has already been suspended by his own flailing team once this season for appearing to question his head coach.—
Alex Kirschenbaum,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Yet after gesturing toward a promising thriller setup, the film soon begins to spin its wheels — doing little to complicate or tighten the melodrama, while only superficially probing its two principal characters as their romance is inevitably reignited.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
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Yet by simultaneously gesturing toward the audience, O’Hara also underscored the importance of bringing viewers into the fold.—
Paula Mejía,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waving. Accessed 13 Feb. 2026.
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