WAVING Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

waving 1 of 2

noun

as in flapping

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waving

2 of 2

verb

present participle of wave

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

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 waving

Noun

Every September 11th, people assemble near Ground Zero for the tolling of a bell, the whispering of prayers, the offering of flowers, the waving of flags. — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026 Similarly, the World Cup is a global phenomenon in which the waving of national colors reaches fever pitch. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026 Egypt has arrested and prosecuted gays and lesbians on the basis of vague indecency laws and has cracked down on any outward expressions of Pride, especially the waving of rainbow flags. — Andrew Destin, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026 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 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

Verb

After the first quarter everyone is waving to the Children’s Hospital that’s next to the stadium and the kids watching the game from their windows are waving back. — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026 The garrison’s enormous flag was waving on its flagpole, some 90 feet high—a clear signal that the American fort had survived the Battle of Baltimore. — Michele Metych Britannica Editors Sep. 11, Encyclopedia Britannica, 11 Sep. 2026 Bush heeded Jeter’s advice, tossing a perfect strike to backup catcher Todd Greene before waving to a thunderous crowd. — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 11 Sep. 2026 Traffic on East Wacker Drive remained stagnant for hours as people honked car horns, danced and cheered while waving Mexican flags in a crowd that was mostly peaceful, police said at the time. — Allison Kiehl, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2026 Images of cherry trees and the nearby Cana Island Lighthouse are likely seen waving in the backgrounds of selfies of the more than 2 million tourists who visit Door County each year, according to the county's website. — Chris Ramirez, jsonline.com, 11 Sep. 2026 In effect, this sequel argues that heteronormative romance is the most important thing in a woman’s life, despite all its hand waving toward sisterhood and familial bonds. — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026 After initially waving off any medical attention, the ninth-year signal caller went into the injury tent and then eventually walked towards the tunnel to the locker room accompanied by team staff. — Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 10 Sep. 2026 The pro-Belgian crowd cheered on their team, waving flags in support. — ABC News, 7 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waving

Noun

The speed of my spinning nunchucks wasn’t nearly as fearsome as the flapping of my upper arm flab.

— Johanna Stein, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Symmetrical wing flapping generates forward thrust, while differential wing motion provides steering for smooth, quiet indoor flight.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026

Definition of flapping

Verb

My parents use chopsticks, lifting their bowls and motioning the food into their mouths.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 17 Sep. 2026
The Giants ran a modified version of the tush push, with 300-pound fullback Pat Ricard motioning behind Dart to help the quarterback surge forward on his sneaks.

— Dan Duggan, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of motioning

Noun

Unai Emery’s penchant for rehabilitating flailing, once prodigious talents now extends to Alejandro Garnacho.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 30 July 2026
This is not the approach of a president who’s running a war; this is the flailing of a man who’s in over his head and is reacting to events, rather than guiding them.

— Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026

Definition of flailing

Verb

Those who reject or question her motives are pushed far into the movie’s gradual, calculated unspooling, gesturing at thorny complexities which are never allowed to arise.

— Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 13 Sep. 2026
Lavie appeared in a jailhouse-yellow shirt and blue pants and looked distressed throughout the hearing, nodding and gesturing to friends at times.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026