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
Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
His fans got nuzzles, licks and tail wags in return.
—Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Hope then asks to hold the pup, who has curly sandy-colored fur, and wags her tail as the 6-year-old holds her in her arms (with a little help from her mom).
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for wag
Noun
The direction of the wag matters, too—research suggests that dogs tend to wag more to the right when feeling positive and to the left when experiencing negative emotions.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Mar. 2025
His fans got nuzzles, licks and tail wags in return.
—Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
Such as when our yellow Lab Frank couldn’t stop wagging his tail while digging a hole.
—David McGrath, Chicago Tribune, 11 July 2025
Hope then asks to hold the pup, who has curly sandy-colored fur, and wags her tail as the 6-year-old holds her in her arms (with a little help from her mom).
—Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 10 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for wag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wag
Verb
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In the video, the stick bug flaps its large back wings and moves and reaches with its legs as others look on.—
Kelli Bender,
People.com,
1 Aug. 2025
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Windows were blown out and a curtain flapped languidly in the breeze.—
Susan Mathison,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 July 2025
Verb
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Combine that with a black eye that Bobby gets during a baseball game and, soon, all of Arlen is gossiping that Hank is abusing his son.—
Daniel Dockery,
Vulture,
7 July 2025
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Our after should include shaking a**, gossiping with friends, drinking cocktails, lip-syncing to a favorite song—staring into the strobe lights, feeling alive, fully bodied, transcendent.—
Marcos Gonsalez,
Time,
12 June 2025
Verb
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Footage of the incident shared on social media showed passengers jumping to escape the massive fire and bobbing in the water wearing life preservers.—
Jillian Frankel,
People.com,
21 July 2025
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Now, the feathery emu bobs for cherry tomatoes in her half-foot deep blue kiddie pool and watches as passersby marvel at her ability to find any fruit thrown to her.—
Kairi Lowery,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 July 2025
Verb
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Whether due to devious marketing misdirection or just the viewer's first-time-watch naïveté, these flicks swerve in unexpected directions by snuffing out one of their prominent characters before the first or second act is even through.—
James Mercadante,
EW.com,
23 July 2025
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Johan Vásquez flicked the restart across the goal mouth and Álvarez burst past the defense, redirecting the ball from three yards just inside Matt Freese’s far post.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
7 July 2025
Verb
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But management is talking more and more about its opportunity to ship gas to data centers, especially in Texas.—
MoneyShow,
Forbes.com,
25 July 2025
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Who were your favorites to see walk on set? Sandler: None of them would talk to Julie.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
25 July 2025
Verb
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President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shook hands in Scotland on Sunday after agreeing on the framework for a trade deal between two of the world’s biggest economies.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
28 July 2025
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The two men appeared to shake hands before parting ways.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
28 July 2025
Verb
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This is why after a snake is killed, its body will still twitch and move around, and why its head can still bite.—
Brayden Garcia,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
22 July 2025
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At times, Woods reminds me of 2025 Cleveland Browns first-rounder Mason Graham, with the quickness and twitch to play just about anywhere along a defensive front and the power/hand speed to be a three-down weapon at either spot inside.—
Nick Baumgardner,
New York Times,
10 July 2025
Verb
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This color pumps the brakes on the more divisive choice of Rumors without drifting into the more palatable selections of Cracked Pepper and Blank Canvas.—
Kelly Dawson,
Architectural Digest,
30 July 2025
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Conservation districts Groundwater conservation districts, such as the Hays Trinity district, are allowed to regulate the water pumped from the ground, except for domestic and livestock wells that produce less than 25,000 gallons per day.—
Claire Osborn,
Austin American Statesman,
30 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wag. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
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