waggle 1 of 2

as in flap
a quick jerky movement from side to side or up and down a quick waggle of her head to indicate "no"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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waggle

2 of 2

verb

Examples 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
Noun
One part of this process – the famous waggle dance – was discovered decades ago. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 8 Dec. 2011 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
And Adem Bona was a whirling dervish of a double-double, dropping in an and-one layup as the Trojans tried to chip away into a second-half lead, slapping his bicep and waggling his tongue and visibly sucking the life out of Galen. Luca Evans, Orange County Register, 27 Jan. 2024 Longer waggle runs indicate longer distances, while the angle of the waggle's direction indicates direction. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 13 Mar. 2023 See all Example Sentences for waggle 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waggle
Noun
  • There are flat zipper pouches on the inside of the flap and along one wall of the large compartment.
    Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 1 Dec. 2024
  • The trench coat has a pointed collar, buttons, and two functional flap pockets.
    Nicol Natale, People.com, 30 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
Noun
  • Kobe's tail wags furiously as the pair are introduced, and the couple also keep a close hand on the larger dog just in case his excitement becomes too much.
    Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
  • So Michigan is going to get away with the biggest on-field cheating scandal in the history of college football with nothing more than a finger wag and slap on the wrist, right?
    Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 7 Aug. 2024
Verb
  • Low-voltage emissions cause the prey to involuntarily twitch.
    Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2024
  • Locals twitched at their curtains and looked outside.
    James Horncastle, The Athletic, 2 July 2024
Noun
  • Forty-six percent of the public expect the economy to improve in the next year, up nine points from October, and driven by a switch of Republicans (and, to a lesser extent, independents) from pessimistic to optimistic.
    Steve Liesman, CNBC, 15 Dec. 2024
  • Already, the league is seeing the benefits of that switch, with quarterfinal ratings coming in 1% lower than last year’s—better than the 10% drop group-play broadcasts on ESPN and TNT saw this season.
    Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 15 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • The Broncos at that point had swung and missed at every bullet point of the game plan.
    Nick Kosmider, The Athletic, 16 Dec. 2024
  • Miragaia likely swung its tail to drive off predators, and perhaps cause rivals to back down, rather than trying to strike potential threats.
    Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Dec. 2024
Noun
  • His next one went for 15, showing some impressive wiggle.
    Colton Pouncy, The Athletic, 9 Aug. 2024
  • Pintar is a 23-year-old center fielder who hit well in High A but was old for the level, and since a promotion to Double A at the start of July, he’s struggled to hit anything with a wiggle in it.
    The Athletic MLB Staff, The Athletic, 25 July 2024
Verb
  • Murray crouched down for some extra coaxing of his heave from behind the half-court line, watched the ball sail on track toward the basket and — swish! — struck a pose right in front of the broadcast table.
    Dave Campbell, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 May 2024
  • The actors would get it, take a swig, swish it around their mouth and then spit it out.
    Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 8 Oct. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Waggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waggle. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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