as in flap
a quick jerky movement from side to side or up and down
the dog gave its tail a single wag before it flopped back down
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as in comedian
a person (as a writer) noted for or specializing in humor
some wag wrote a droll satire on the scandal for the newspaper
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in to flap
to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions
the cat's tail wagged back and forth in annoyance
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2
as in to gossip
to relate sometimes questionable or secret information of a personal nature
tongues will wag as soon as word of the house's selling price gets around
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Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of wag
David K. Li, NBC News, 30 Sep. 2024
Tail wags and sloppy kisses have been valuable tools for first responders and victims alike over the years thanks to the Puppies Behind Bars program.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2024
Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
His face lit up, the eyes crinkled, the smile reached its widest, and the finger wagged at me again.
—Alok Sama, Fortune Asia, 17 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wag 
Noun
Mitchell Layton / Getty Images Younger fans who might not have been familiar with Mutombo’s NBA career (1991-2009) were introduced to his finger wag during a Geico car insurance ad that comically featured his blocks and taunts.
—David K. Li, NBC News, 30 Sep. 2024
Tail wags and sloppy kisses have been valuable tools for first responders and victims alike over the years thanks to the Puppies Behind Bars program.
—Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 9 Aug. 2024
Verb
But after Raphinha scored to make it 0-4 to Barcelona in the first El Classico of the season, the demure Italian made a beeline for his opposite number, Hansi Flick, to wag a finger in his face.
—Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2024
His face lit up, the eyes crinkled, the smile reached its widest, and the finger wagged at me again.
—Alok Sama, Fortune Asia, 17 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wag
Verb
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Goose bumps ran up my arm as the bird stood, clumsily flapped its wings, and then fell.Bryant Stamford, The Courier-Journal, 21 Nov. 2024
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These are not unlike those found in the wing bones of modern birds that flap their wings to fly, Rosenbach said.Ashley Strickland, CNN, 9 Sep. 2024
Verb
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Baseball fans still gossip about which players might be flouting the tobacco ban.Kaitlyn Tiffany, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2024
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With a trip to Bali two days away and tensions remaining high, the women are naturally gossiping about how to logistically navigate women who cannot help but get into it with each other the second a Champagne flute touches her lips, with voice messages and FaceTime calls abound.Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 24 July 2024
Verb
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Once in place, researchers could visualize and observe which motor neurons lit up during what activities, such as bobbing the illicium to attract prey.Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 12 Dec. 2024
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Dylan is simply a force of nature, bobbing on the impenetrable currents of his personal muse.Scott Phillips, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The game’s opening 10 minutes saw the striker lose possession after attempting to flick the ball around the corner.Carl Anka, The Athletic, 13 Dec. 2024
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As Swift started singing, fans began to flick on the flashlights on their phones until the entire stadium was illuminated.Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Petra came to talk to Gabriel late in the evening, when she was possessed by fears for her parents.Daisy Hildyard, The New Yorker, 15 Dec. 2024
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When talking with a reporter, Torbenson flipped through Givens’ case to get the basics.John Diedrich, USA TODAY, 14 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The Texas Cheerleader Murder Plot delves into a crime that shook the town of Channelview, Texas, in 1991.Tim Ryan, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024
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Warner, however, was looking to shake things up and get Bogart out of being typecast as a gangster.Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 17 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Low-voltage emissions cause the prey to involuntarily twitch.Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
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Locals twitched at their curtains and looked outside.James Horncastle, The Athletic, 2 July 2024
Verb
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Milk is pumped through a series of thin plates at high speed to reach a minimum temperature of 161 F (71 C).Kerry E. Kaylegian, Discover Magazine, 6 Dec. 2024
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You're pumped to learn from mistakes and bounce back stronger.Jodie Cook, Forbes, 6 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Wag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wag. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
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