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
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Recent Examples of waggle
Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2023
One part of this process – the famous waggle dance – was discovered decades ago.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 8 Dec. 2011
Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 9 May 2024
This part of the design also imparts a nice waggling action via its thin paddle tail.
—David A. Rose, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 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
One part of this process – the famous waggle dance – was discovered decades ago.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 8 Dec. 2011
Verb
The observations revealed that elephants greeted one another with specific combinations of vocalizations and gestures, such as rumbles with ear-flapping or ear-spreading, as well as other seemingly less deliberate physical movements, such as tail-raising and waggling, according to the study.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 9 May 2024
This part of the design also imparts a nice waggling action via its thin paddle tail.
—David A. Rose, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 2024
See All Example Sentences for waggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waggle
Noun
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The ripstop is applied to the shirt’s pointed Western yoke, collar and chest flaps.—
Angela Velasquez,
Sourcing Journal,
11 Apr. 2025
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However, drivers must remember to shut the DRS flap in a non-DRS zone.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
Noun
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His fans got nuzzles, licks and tail wags in return.—
Janice Neumann,
Chicago Tribune,
7 Apr. 2025
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According to Sweetie Pet Products, the position, speed, and direction of a wag all contribute to a canine's overall body language.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
18 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Kirk says that when a cat experiences changes in air pressure, which can also happen while riding in a car, their ears may move or twitch in response.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
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That ratio is naturally reversed here, though the director drops in a few snippets of the actual team near the beginning and the end, including a grainy, chilling shot of the real Lemons twitching near the ocean floor.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
28 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Making the switch from using press releases as tactical news vehicles to strategically leveraging them as long-lead PR tools allows companies to stay ahead of the pack.—
Daniel Lotzof,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
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But for many doctors making the switch, the concierge membership model is the only way to have the kind of personal relationships with patients that attracted them to the profession in the first place.—
Karen Brown,
NPR,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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With Orlando trailing by 2 points less than a minute into the fourth quarter at Spectrum Center following a disastrous third, Hornets guard LaMelo Ball looked to swing the ball to Nick Smith Jr. waiting in the corner.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2025
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Still no timetable on anything, but he’s been able to swing the bat and feel like there’s been some steady improvement day after day.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
27 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Peña started an offensive overhaul last season, quieting his batting stance and eliminating the bat wiggle in his pre-pitch setup.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
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The charging case feels a little cheap, and there's some wiggle to the lid’s hinge, but at this price, that's to be expected.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The patrons were still as Tiger Woods’ ball flashed its Nike swish and stalled before the edge of the cup on No. 16.—
Gabby Herzig,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
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Burks closed that avalanche by swishing a three just before the third quarter buzzer.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
30 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waggle. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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