zigzag 1 of 2

Definition of zigzagnext
as in to weave
to move suddenly aside or to and fro the fleeing car zigzagged down the highway at breakneck speed

Synonyms & Similar Words

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zigzag

2 of 2

adjective

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 zigzag
Verb
The New Museum expansion, designed by OMA/Shohei Shigematsu and Rem Koolhaas, is worth a look, mostly for a dramatically zigzagging staircase that has an appealing Baroque-meets-high-tech energy. Jed Perl, The New York Review of Books, 25 Apr. 2026 In perimenopause, those same two hormones tumble downward, often on a zigzagging path, which can trigger similar mental symptoms, like anxiety or a short fuse. Erica Sloan, SELF, 6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
Any number of odd, zigzag examples can be used to make the case that legislative districts in Wisconsin are excessively gerrymandered. Megan O’Matz, ProPublica, 17 Nov. 2023 See All Example Sentences for zigzag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for zigzag
Verb
  • The fix is to weave conversation into the experience instead of pasting a clone on top.
    Lutz Finger, Forbes.com, 23 May 2026
  • The exterior is also home to a decal that runs along the lower doors and beneath the rear wing, which features a colorful geometric pattern inspired by Bedouin wool weaving.
    Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 22 May 2026
Adjective
  • Triangles in the Sky Carl Friedrich Gauss, a German astronomer who lived in the late 1700s and early 1800s, was one of the first mathematicians to study geometry in curved spaces.
    Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 23 May 2026
  • Far below the most abstract undulating curved frozen shapes where the weight of the sea ice has forged the shoreline into a white sculpture park.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 May 2026
Verb
  • Shawn Mendes stuck to his slate gray suit, sans shirt, and gamely posed for photos on the mansion’s steps before ducking down to the basement.
    Leigh Nordstrom, Footwear News, 17 May 2026
  • As the family is photographed, several Aces members come in and pause for a brief hug and coo before ducking quickly out of frame.
    Jade Chang, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Adjective
  • The suited ensemble emphasized militaristic utility, with a long-sleeve jacket embroidered with muted gold sinuous motifs.
    Julia Teti, Footwear News, 13 May 2026
  • Another can be found—sort of—in Shala Miller’s video installation Flight (2026), a murky abstraction projected onto sinuous screens hung from the ceiling.
    Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 12 May 2026
Adjective
  • Like a vibrantly hued snake darting down the narrow branch of a tree, the collective of high-performance automobiles rapidly navigates the narrow, serpentine artery along the Northeastern Italian coast, a quicksilver-like tracing of the border between Il Bel Paese and Slovenia.
    Viju Mathew, Robb Report, 11 May 2026
  • The Comeback never got any nominations in the supporting categories, but Andrew Scott could pull some attention as the show’s serpentine tech-bro CEO.
    Joe Reid, Vulture, 2 May 2026
Adjective
  • The actor starred in the miniseries The Name of the Rose before pivoting to the delightfully twisted Evil.
    Andrew Walsh, Entertainment Weekly, 23 May 2026
  • The story has been described as a twisted murder mystery that charts the origins of the sinister Vought corporation.
    James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Adjective
  • First, even leaving aside the long build-time, there is a tortuous regulatory maze that has to be navigated that seems like something the Greek gods devised to annoy Odysseus.
    David Szondy May 24, New Atlas, 24 May 2026
  • Across the United States, there are key animal species – indicator species, they are sometimes called – whose own stories exemplify the tortuous path of environmental protection.
    Stephen Hudak, The Orlando Sentinel, 4 May 2026
Adjective
  • Soneva Jani stretches almost four miles along a stunning lagoon, with a small, lush island connecting two winding jetties, each snaking through the turquoise waters and leading to a collection of unique overwater villas.
    William Curtis, Travel + Leisure, 6 May 2026
  • Even the entrance is enveloping—a winding, sheltered, dark wooden path that smells like intense relaxation and essential oils.
    Morgan Fargo, Vogue, 23 Apr. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Zigzag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/zigzag. Accessed 25 May. 2026.

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