wads 1 of 2

plural of wad
1
as in loads
a considerable amount a starlet who usually gets a big wad of publicity for her nonstop antics

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2

wads

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of wad
as in rounds
to form into a round compact mass she wadded up the paper and threw it in the wastebasket took the paper off the straw and wadded it up

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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 wads
Noun
Photos apparently taken by the men themselves show wads of cash on the seat of a car, in a plastic bag and in stacks on the floor of a location in New York. Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 1 July 2026 The alpha heroes of 1980s romances—ranch owners, corporate raiders, anyone played by Michael Douglas—tended to be emotionally constipated anti-feminists intent on dominating the opposite sex by using testosterone and wads of cash. Sophie Gilbert, The Atlantic, 10 June 2026 And Lamanna’s coauthor Jingmai O’Connor, vertebrate paleontologist and associate curator of fossil reptiles at Chicago’s Field Museum, also pointed out wads of bone found in the Changma Basin resemble pellets that owls regurgitate after feeding on prey. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 4 June 2026 Not as punishment, but to better know our playing grounds and appreciate the big and small things—like freeing wads of vegetation from an undercarriage—that turn a field into a stage. CBS News, 1 May 2026 Cubans have long been accustomed to shopping with wads of cash stuffed into bags after compounding bouts of soaring inflation. Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 8 Apr. 2026 Our pants had been ripped from brush and windfalls, and wads of insulation were hanging out of mine. Elwyn "bud" Myers, Outdoor Life, 11 Mar. 2026 Use those wads of wrapping paper leftover from a birthday, baby shower, or holiday bash to stuff the bottom and sides of the box and prevent shifting during shipping. Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 25 Dec. 2025 Hanging ornaments with care can be one of the highlights of the holiday season, but untangling wads of string lights is far less enjoyable. Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wads
Noun
  • Double bag any heavy trash bags or loads that contain a lot of wet food to prevent rips and leaks.
    Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 3 July 2026
  • Battery systems could support those loads alongside renewable generation or other power sources.
    Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • On their way in, crews had to clear debris from multiple floors; aside from chunks of concrete, masonry and flooring, obstacles included a bathroom sink and toilet that had tumbled down from above.
    Mery Mogollón, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • Trump gleefully tearing up large chunks of the White House and my hometown, trying to install a solipsistic arch, an exclusive golf course, a gargantuan ballroom and a garden of heroes — all to his Versailles-on-acid specifications.
    Maureen Dowd, Mercury News, 4 July 2026
Verb
  • Canada, a little unlucky to lose so heavily, has made history this summer after making the knockout rounds for the first time and will have undoubtedly spread joy and inspired a new generation in the country.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 5 July 2026
  • Throughout the tournament’s history, hosts have hugely overperformed at the World Cup, reaching knockout rounds 91% of the time, semifinals 57%, and the championship 26%.
    Michael Morris, Time, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • Having a few good friends can be more meaningful than having tons.
    Joy Harden Bradford, AJC.com, 2 July 2026
  • There are tons of other great Spanx deals to shop over the Fourth of July weekend.
    Olivia Dubyak, Travel + Leisure, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • Protostars are born when patches in vast molecular clouds cool and form clumps, collapsing under their gravity.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 3 July 2026
  • Otherwise, the excess moisture will cause the blueberries to freeze into clumps.
    Martha Stewart, Martha Stewart, 3 July 2026
Verb
  • Scottie Scheffler’s birdie putt to tie Viktor Hovland rolls just left of the hole.
    Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 29 June 2026
  • Brush rolls with egg mixture and evenly sprinkle with 4 teaspoons sesame seeds.
    ABC News, ABC News, 29 June 2026
Noun
  • This could include sniffing around more than usual or barking and growling at odd places like piles of leaves.
    Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 3 July 2026
  • The alternating placements of the piles/objects are very precise, which creates a series of chicanes, indicating they are not intended as obstructions but rather to prevent rapid ingress and egress by any vehicle toward the tunnels.
    Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • Bathroom sink drains can become clogged from hair, globs of toothpaste, and soapy residue.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 30 May 2026
  • Bieber’s face artfully dotted with globs of lotion.
    Lucy Feldman, Time, 6 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wads.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wads. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

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