as in flap
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 comedian
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 to flap
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 to gossip
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of wag
Dawn Kovell, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
Can anyone read that much Tynan without adopting his native tongue wag?
—Stephen Colbert, New Yorker, 18 July 2025
Kendall Malinchock, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2025
That includes Gerrit Cole, who infamously wagged his finger at the Mariners’ bench and fired a high, 0-2 fastball at Caballero back in June 2023 when the hitter played for Seattle.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wag
Noun
The placement of the tail, the type of the wag and the overall body posture need to be considered.
—Dawn Kovell, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2025
Can anyone read that much Tynan without adopting his native tongue wag?
—Stephen Colbert, New Yorker, 18 July 2025
Verb
The pair shared curious stares and wagged tails throughout the three-hour journey, delighting those seated nearby.
—Kendall Malinchock, USA Today, 21 Aug. 2025
That includes Gerrit Cole, who infamously wagged his finger at the Mariners’ bench and fired a high, 0-2 fastball at Caballero back in June 2023 when the hitter played for Seattle.
—Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 20 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wag
Verb
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These behaviors included; lifting one leg, spinning around on a perch, and flapping their wings on command (Figure 1B).—
GrrlScientist,
Forbes.com,
13 Sep. 2025
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Birds can soar through the sky for long periods without flapping their wings.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That’s probably more a reflection of modern-day Young Thug than anything else, where the music is an afterthought to gossip and the CEO life.—
Alphonse Pierre,
Pitchfork,
11 Sep. 2025
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A couple is having their pre-show Manhattans; a group of friends is gossiping over martinis and shrimp cocktail.—
Paul Brady,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Aug. 2025
Verb
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In a video Trump posted to a social media, a small boat can be seen bobbing the water before being struck, resulting in a cloud of black smoke.—
Anne Flaherty,
ABC News,
15 Sep. 2025
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But unlike Yamamoto—whose second straight 10-K one-hitter was wasted—Verlander bobbed and weaved and lollipop-curved the lineup to death.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Any dairy farmer can tell you that biting flies are a pestilent scourge for cattle herds, which is why one so often sees cows throwing their heads, stamping their feet, flicking their tails, and twitching their skin—desperately trying to shake off the nasty creatures.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 Sep. 2025
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Baird, who at 5-10 is similar to Iloski in stature, flicked a clever header a foot wide of the far post.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Schweigert emphasized the importance of talking slowly, before sending participants back to the breakrooms to reintroduce themselves with a more deliberate pace.—
Katherine Fung,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
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When Zuckerberg started talking, Boz's glasses began displaying subtitles.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Kam Shanks could not shake Ole Miss' punt coverage team and Arkansas will start its first drive of the second half from the 9.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Sep. 2025
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As Emmy celebrations peppered the town on Saturday night, a starkly differently occasion left attendees shaken, tearful and reminded of the immersive power of cinema.—
Stacey Wilson Hunt,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Any dairy farmer can tell you that biting flies are a pestilent scourge for cattle herds, which is why one so often sees cows throwing their heads, stamping their feet, flicking their tails, and twitching their skin—desperately trying to shake off the nasty creatures.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 Sep. 2025
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Prior to the 2024 incident, Mangione reportedly shared information on Reddit about a number of health issues, including struggles with back pain, brain fog, and twitching leg muscles.—
Olivia-Anne Cleary,
Time,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The state is also home to three mines with hundreds of injection wells, used to pump chemicals into the ground to dissolve and extract copper or salt.—
Austin Corona,
AZCentral.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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Water poured in too fast for the crew to pump it out, and the ship's captain ordered the men into the yawl boat.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
15 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wag. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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