as in flaps
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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as in comedians
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 waggles
to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions
the cat's tail wagged back and forth in annoyance
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in gossips
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of wags
Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Less bending for pets + slower eating habits = better digestion and more tail wags.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2025
Abigail Adams, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Noun
In a video on TikTok, Erin shared when the two dogs were reunited in a moment filled with excited tail wags.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Sep. 2025
Less bending for pets + slower eating habits = better digestion and more tail wags.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2025
Verb
As Gino wags his finger at his estranged wife, Natalie begins to approach Jasmine.
—Abigail Adams, People.com, 8 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wags
Verb
-
The reader bobs along in the author’s stream of consciousness, riding crests of despair, anger, and hilarity as Toews assembles the shards of her past to investigate her will to write, which is deeply entwined with her will to live.—
Kristen Martin,
The Atlantic,
27 Aug. 2025
-
But sometimes even icons need to switch things up a bit—cue the dizzying array of flippy waves, shags, and bobs over the years.—
Fiona Embleton,
Glamour,
19 Aug. 2025
Verb
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To clean your garbage disposal, Lane suggests starting by cleaning the rubber flaps by using dish soap and a brush or an old toothbrush to scrub the rubber flaps that line the disposal.—
Melissa Locker,
Southern Living,
2 Sep. 2025
-
Tamsin flaps her hand to fan herself.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
That’s the at-bat teammates and coaches gush about, though, the one Noel makes sure gets mentioned when anyone talks to him about his epic blast.—
Zack Meisel,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
-
Devin Harris talks Nowitzki on Amazon Prime Nowitzki is preparing to join Amazon Prime’s new NBA studio show, which will include Taylor Rooks and Steve Nash, among others.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Chrissy Teigen stepped into one of fall’s clearest color stories this week, pairing Tom Ford’s Satin Eva d’Orsay pumps with a monochrome look in New York on Tuesday.—
Maggie Clancy,
Footwear News,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Victor Sanchez pumps gas into his truck on August 28, 2025, in Mill Valley, California.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The scene flicks to a flashback of Henry at war, which then switches to Henry in his previous timeline suffering from a nightmare.—
Lincee Ray Published,
EW.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Noah Cameron shakes off rocky 1st inning Sunday didn’t start well for Royals rookie starter Noah Cameron.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
14 Sep. 2025
-
One team member gets to see an object in a box, then the other team members have to guess what that person saw, using only facial expressions (no nods or head shakes) as clues.—
Matthew Jackson,
Vulture,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Some devices, for example, track eye movements or other small muscle twitches to let users select words from a screen.—
Emma R. Hasson,
Scientific American,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Why Regeneration, Not Reinvention Whenever HR is critiqued, the pendulum swings toward reinvention.—
Vibhas Ratanjee,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
With Venice the fall’s first awards season launchpad, eyes will be keenly trained on how the jury swings tonight.—
Nancy Tartaglione,
Deadline,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wags.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wags. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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