as in to flap
to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions
the rabbit waggled its ears and hopped away
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 waggle
Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2023
The younger Yaz’s pre-swing bat waggle was the topic, hitting coach Justin Viele said.
—Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle, 22 Mar. 2023
Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
For many, this is the last image of that player with the waggling hips, at the top of the world, and unburdened by football’s brutality.
—Jacob Whitehead, The Athletic, 30 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for waggle
Noun
The silence of the forest might be interrupted with a siren salute from a passing law enforcement helicopter, or a wing waggle from firefighting aircraft passing en route to a fire.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2023
The younger Yaz’s pre-swing bat waggle was the topic, hitting coach Justin Viele said.
—Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle, 22 Mar. 2023
Verb
Millions of people watched the awards shows where Williams waggled his hips at Tom Jones, or challenged Oasis’ Liam Gallagher to a fist fight — moments that have been absorbed into pop culture.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
For many, this is the last image of that player with the waggling hips, at the top of the world, and unburdened by football’s brutality.
—Jacob Whitehead, The Athletic, 30 June 2024
See All Example Sentences for waggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waggle
Noun
-
The pouch—or marsupium, from which the group takes its name—is a flap of skin covering the nipples.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
-
An acolyte of Matthieu Blazy’s Chanel, Jenner swapped her litany of unbranded bags for a burgundy maxi flap bag from the designer’s spring 2026 debut.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
At the time the docuseries was made, Mark could only flick at that possibility due to a lack of evidence.—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
26 Mar. 2026
-
In the video, the snake flicks its tongue, a common sensory behavior used to detect chemical cues in the air and identify nearby prey or potential predators.—
Jasmine Mendez
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Upon the occasion of his seventh block, Ejiofor rolled back downcourt giving the crowd a Dikembe Mutumbo-esque finger wag.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
15 Mar. 2026
-
Many critics, political pundits, and wags asked, somewhat rhetorically, whether anyone in the administration recalls how handing the responsibility of nuclear weaponry over to machines turned out in the Terminator movies.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The launch can also be viewed on NASA's social media platforms include Facebook, twitch and X as well as NASA+, the agency's streaming service.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Curry’s body began convulsing and twitching with increasing severity, consistent with him sustaining a traumatic brain injury from being punched in the face, documents state.—
Deborah Laverty,
Chicago Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The switch to a fall schedule will require a second dredging this year to make the transition.—
Phil Diehl,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Hayes carried the name and number of Dalton Knecht on his chest, a last-minute switch from originally swapping his jersey with Jarred Vanderbilt.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
My dad glanced behind us once to see if we were being followed, winked at me in the rearview mirror, and then swung our car toward Interstate 80, headed west.—
Zayd Ayers Dohrn,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Then the pendulum swung and strength training came into vogue in the ’90s and 2000s as more research emerged suggesting that lifting could help improve bone health and prevent osteoporosis, Petrzela says.—
Caitlin Carlson,
SELF,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
And there was-- there was a wiggle.—
Anderson Cooper,
CBS News,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Each robot performs a tiny wiggle pattern to report information like temperature.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
With Duke playing keep-away to prevent the Huskies from fouling, Cayden Boozer's pass near midcourt was deflected by Demary, and after UConn came up with the ball, Mullins swished a 3 from 35 feet away.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Mar. 2026
-
With Duke playing keep-away to prevent the Huskies from fouling, Cayden Boozer’s pass near midcourt was deflected by Demary, and after UConn came up with the ball, Mullins swished a 3 from 35 feet away.—
Noah Trister,
Baltimore Sun,
29 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waggle. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
