as in to flap
to move from side to side or up and down with quick jerky motions
the rabbit waggled its ears and hopped away
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waggle
Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2023
The younger Yaz’s pre-swing bat waggle was the topic, hitting coach Justin Viele said.
—Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle, 22 Mar. 2023
Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2024
The observations revealed that elephants greeted one another with specific combinations of vocalizations and gestures, such as rumbles with ear-flapping or ear-spreading, as well as other seemingly less deliberate physical movements, such as tail-raising and waggling, according to the study.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 9 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for waggle
Noun
The silence of the forest might be interrupted with a siren salute from a passing law enforcement helicopter, or a wing waggle from firefighting aircraft passing en route to a fire.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 Apr. 2023
The younger Yaz’s pre-swing bat waggle was the topic, hitting coach Justin Viele said.
—Susan Slusser, San Francisco Chronicle, 22 Mar. 2023
Verb
These massive mammals greet each other with a mix of gestures and sounds—by flapping their ears, making rumbling noises, waggling their tails and reaching out their trunks, scientists reported last week in the journal Communications Biology.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 May 2024
The observations revealed that elephants greeted one another with specific combinations of vocalizations and gestures, such as rumbles with ear-flapping or ear-spreading, as well as other seemingly less deliberate physical movements, such as tail-raising and waggling, according to the study.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 9 May 2024
See All Example Sentences for waggle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waggle
Noun
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Tonal satin trim and flap-welt pockets at the hips complete the elegant look.—
Jamie Allison Sanders,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
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But dirt, lint, or weather damage often keeps the flap stuck open just a sliver.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Without appearing to look, Rogers flicked the ball round the corner, straight into the path of Madueke running in behind, cutting inwards from the right.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
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Aniston’s new haircut incorporates more length and less volume, features a sleek root base, and focuses on the feathery, flicked ends of the original cut.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
10 Sep. 2025
Noun
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This is not about taking the wag out of the puppy’s tail.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
11 Sep. 2025
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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
Verb
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My hand twitched toward the phone, muscle memory stronger than willpower.—
Maggie Downs,
Oc Register,
9 Sep. 2025
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Jones’ raw traits have always been jaw-dropping — a 6-foot-6 defensive end who can combine an edge rusher’s twitch with an interior lineman’s power.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
30 Aug. 2025
Noun
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The aforementioned head also has lights, with batteries included, and a tiny switch behind the neck.—
Ollie Barder,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
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Keep an eye on October 19 as a possible date for that switch.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
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That kind of dexterity is apparent in the footwork, one of those features that can swing matches when the going gets tough.—
Tim Ellis,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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After the Blue Jays swung a trade to bring in Shane Bieber at this season's deadline, Edward Eng of FanSided's Jays Journal predicted the team would turn to him as a long-term replacement while letting Max Scherzer walk this winter.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Ultimately, the full-body wiggle could help shake out the tension in your back, get your blood flowing, and decompress things a bit.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
12 Sep. 2025
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Excited body language, like full-body wiggles and big tail wags, is another strong indicator of affection.—
Maria Azzurra Volpe,
MSNBC Newsweek,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Submerge the spinach and gently swish it around to loosen dirt and debris.—
Katie Rosenhouse,
Southern Living,
7 Sep. 2025
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The video of serene waves that swished behind the curved stage at the start of Dua Lipa’s concert slowly intensified until the tide became a surge, an appropriate analogy for the pop superstar’s arrival in the US for the first time in more than three years.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Waggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waggle. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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