flag-waving

noun

flag-wav·​ing ˈflag-ˌwā-viŋ How to pronounce flag-waving (audio)
: excessively passionate appeal to patriotic or partisan sentiment : chauvinism
an article that was nothing more than flag-waving
often used before another noun
flag-waving rhetoric

Examples of flag-waving in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Living with a lockdown Athletes are usually free to meet and mingle with rivals from around the world in the Olympic Village and play games before enthusiastic flag-waving crowds. Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 11 Feb. 2026 The stands were packed with flag-waving fans. Pat Graham, Baltimore Sun, 7 Feb. 2026 Within hours, what promptly swung into action was a massive propaganda flag-waving event. Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Jan. 2026 For now, Venezuelans don’t know who is running their country, even as Venezuelan news networks broadcast images of celebratory flag-waving in the streets. Shane Harris, The Atlantic, 4 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for flag-waving

Word History

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of flag-waving was in 1892

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Flag-waving.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flag-waving. Accessed 23 Feb. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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