wag 1 of 3

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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wag

2 of 3

noun (2)

wag

3 of 3

verb

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2
3
as in to bob
to make short up-and-down movements the bird's head wagged jerkily as it looked for worms

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 wag
Noun
Many of them can do a solid imitation of the Dikembe Mutombo finger wag. Daniel Brown, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025 That meant Maxwell’s been a victim of Mutombo’s signature finger wag. Daniel Brown, The Athletic, 16 Feb. 2025
Verb
The 3-year-old British Labrador — shiny black, a bit small for her breed — scurries onto the burn site, pushing her nose into piles of ash, moving from one spot to another, wagging her tail the whole time. David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2025 With his eyes glued shut, Ozzy's tail kept wagging back and forth. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wag
Verb
  • Meanwhile, 62,000 people are watching her feathers flap in the breeze as the tree sways live on YouTube.
    Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • He’s dosed that particular dish with truth serum, the better to get tongues flapping around the dinner table.
    Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Toward the end of the movie, the nieces are back in the larder, gossiping among the cabbage and kitchenware.
    Namwali Serpell, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2025
  • While some locals are excited to gossip about the church, others are much more tight-lipped.
    Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 16 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Its head bobbed up and down and side to side, its snub nose tracing arcs in the morning sky.
    Susanne Rust, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Selena Gomez has been embracing a retro aesthetic with her glam lately, throwing it back to the ‘50s and early ’60s with vintage-y pageboy bobs on the red carpet.
    Kara Nesvig, Allure, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The Chelsea captain picked out Mac Allister’s darting run, and the Liverpool midfielder flicked the ball cleverly over a desperate Bento.
    Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Masterminded by hairstylist Peter Burkill, a fair few inches have been eliminated from Brown’s mane, leaving her with a thick and voluminous chin-grazing bob that gently flicks inwards towards the ends.
    Ranyechi Udemezue, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • For the best results, experts recommended talking to your stylist to create a personalized haircare routine.
    Sarah Garone, Health, 27 Mar. 2025
  • Likewise, Maloney was also asked several times over a span of a few weeks to discuss the campaign, but did not agree to talk.
    Mike Nolan, Chicago Tribune, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In the past, Boston has been able to shake off adversity and remain successful.
    Carol Schram, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • New tariffs take effect this week upending global alliances, shaking business and consumer confidence, and rattling the markets.
    ABC News, ABC News, 30 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In the footage, the faceless android is seen suspended from the ceiling, its limbs twitching and moving in an unsettlingly human-like manner.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 11 Mar. 2025
  • For example, dogs who love running might be twitching their paws while dreaming.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • His leg was pumping at, like, a hundred miles an hour.
    Jem Aswad, Variety, 20 Mar. 2025
  • By Erica Sloan Sparkly beverages pumped with prebiotic fiber have been bubbling up for some time now, positioned both as gut-helpers and healthier alts to classic soda.
    Erica Sloan, SELF, 18 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wag. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

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