as in to stagger
to move forward while swaying from side to side
the duck waddled back into the water we watched the penguins waddle over the ice together
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waddle
Video footage from Levi’s Stadium shows people dressed as trees waddling onto the field and taking position before Bad Bunny's performance kicks off.
—
Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
Minions & Monsters will waddle into theaters on July 1.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Feb. 2026
One solitary penguin rejects the breeding and feeding grounds of his fellow birds, and waddles toward icy mountains in the distance, undoubtedly to its death.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Grande then waddles out in the over-the-top ensemble, only to be met by Grombol, who breaks the bad news that the Christmas tree is no longer available to view.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for waddle
Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
Minions & Monsters will waddle into theaters on July 1.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Feb. 2026
One solitary penguin rejects the breeding and feeding grounds of his fellow birds, and waddles toward icy mountains in the distance, undoubtedly to its death.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 2026
Grande then waddles out in the over-the-top ensemble, only to be met by Grombol, who breaks the bad news that the Christmas tree is no longer available to view.
—Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 17 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for waddle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waddle
Verb
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By the time the Magic staggered into Detroit for Game 7 on Sunday afternoon, the outcome felt less like a question and more like an inevitability.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
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The works depicted broken figures staggering toward the viewer in ragged uniforms — in distorted sizes, giant hands and small heads.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Verb
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The ladies haven’t had that problem, lurching out of the gate like the racehorses at Ascot.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
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For weeks, the Strait of Hormuz has lurched between open and closed — mostly the latter — depending on the day’s escalation, underscoring how fragile a system built on global fossil fuel chokepoints has become.—
Jennifer Granholm,
semafor.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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With a gallery space split between a dance studio and a film editing room, the exhibition weaves elements of choreography, documentary, oral history and ritual.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
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Sports fans, theater lovers, and nightlife seekers can weave effortlessly through Daikin Park, Alley Theatre, and the Houston Symphony, with local bars like Angel Share offering creative cocktails and a friendly vibe.—
Carrie Honaker,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Models are tottering on the cobblestoned Bond Street with their heels getting stuck in the rivets.—
Nate Freeman,
Vanity Fair,
13 Feb. 2026
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Now, even that tiny effort is tottering.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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MotoGP also had to shuffle its schedule due to the conflict in the Middle East, postponing the Qatar Grand Prix to November.—
Justin Birnbaum,
Sportico.com,
7 May 2026
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But sometimes, simply shuffling the pieces can help, in our view.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waddle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waddle. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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