as in flapping
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as in motioning
to direct or notify by a movement or gesture
waved them over to the side of the road
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of waving
Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
Assuming whatever creature birthed from a spider egg was also a shapeshifter would even allow the show to bring back everyone’s favorite dancing clown in a modern-day context without too much hand-waving.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025
Some 65,000 fans reveling in SDFC’s six goals scored and vibing off the supporter groups’ chants, drum-banging and flag-waving.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025
Males and females both wave their legs and the waving was not related to courtship or competition.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025
Jasmine Wynn, Time, 9 Feb. 2026
Seahawks fans were spotted climbing light poles, lighting fireworks, waving flags and causing other kinds of pandemonium in Seattle.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 9 Feb. 2026
The presence of office workers waving and taking selfies inside the building as Honnold climbed past them sparked anxiety among some viewers during the broadcast.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 9 Feb. 2026
His move to the Sandringham estate was accelerated after the latest batch of Epstein files were released, and after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was seen waving to photographers and bystanders at Windsor Castle, as if nothing had happened.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 8 Feb. 2026
During the opening ceremony, Team USA athletes were cheered on, but jeers and whistles could be heard as Vance and his wife, second lady Usha Vance, were shown on the stadium screens, waving American flags from the tribune.
—Fernanda Figueroa, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
Despite not being in his most technically brilliant form, Malinin was a crowd favorite at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, which was packed to the rafters with fans waving American flags.
—Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 7 Feb. 2026
There, Brandon became known for his ongoing investigation into air pollution at a paper mill part-owned by NFL owner Robert Kraft, including his attempt to get an interview with Kraft by waving down his police motorcade.
—CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Hamblin then went to the driver side of his minivan, retrieved a black handgun and started waving it at the coach and a group of people standing with him.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Feb. 2026
Noun
Flag waving, immigration restriction, and culture-war rallying cries can shore up the MAGA-tech coalition, but more will be needed to achieve lasting success.
—Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026
Assuming whatever creature birthed from a spider egg was also a shapeshifter would even allow the show to bring back everyone’s favorite dancing clown in a modern-day context without too much hand-waving.
—Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025
Some 65,000 fans reveling in SDFC’s six goals scored and vibing off the supporter groups’ chants, drum-banging and flag-waving.
—Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025
Males and females both wave their legs and the waving was not related to courtship or competition.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
However, that does not stop Glenn from proudly waving and exchanging Olympic pins adorned with the trans pride flag.
—Jasmine Wynn, Time, 9 Feb. 2026
Seahawks fans were spotted climbing light poles, lighting fireworks, waving flags and causing other kinds of pandemonium in Seattle.
—Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 9 Feb. 2026
The presence of office workers waving and taking selfies inside the building as Honnold climbed past them sparked anxiety among some viewers during the broadcast.
—Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 9 Feb. 2026
His move to the Sandringham estate was accelerated after the latest batch of Epstein files were released, and after Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was seen waving to photographers and bystanders at Windsor Castle, as if nothing had happened.
—Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 8 Feb. 2026
During the opening ceremony, Team USA athletes were cheered on, but jeers and whistles could be heard as Vance and his wife, second lady Usha Vance, were shown on the stadium screens, waving American flags from the tribune.
—Fernanda Figueroa, Fortune, 8 Feb. 2026
Despite not being in his most technically brilliant form, Malinin was a crowd favorite at the Milano Ice Skating Arena, which was packed to the rafters with fans waving American flags.
—Sara Germano, Sportico.com, 7 Feb. 2026
There, Brandon became known for his ongoing investigation into air pollution at a paper mill part-owned by NFL owner Robert Kraft, including his attempt to get an interview with Kraft by waving down his police motorcade.
—CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Hamblin then went to the driver side of his minivan, retrieved a black handgun and started waving it at the coach and a group of people standing with him.
—David Ferrara, Cincinnati Enquirer, 2 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waving
Noun
-
The doll also was given articulated elbows and wrists to acknowledge stimming, hand flapping and other gestures that some autistic people use to process sensory information or to express excitement, according to Mattel.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
12 Jan. 2026
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The doll also was given articulated elbows and wrists to acknowledge stimming, hand flapping and other gestures that some people with autism use to process sensory information or to express excitement, according to Mattel.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
With the game well out of reach and 10 seconds to play, Tre White dunked — despite Self motioning from the sideline to dribble it out.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Good appears to be motioning to them with her hands.—
Danya Gainor,
CNN Money,
12 Jan. 2026
Noun
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And so too is his slightly flailing, vaguely desperate, going-for-it run, typified by his hair falling out of place and the sense that this man is fundamentally, for all his money and celebrity, some guy trying to get from one place to another.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
5 Dec. 2025
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Morant appears to be at odds with Memphis brass, and has already been suspended by his own flailing team once this season for appearing to question his head coach.—
Alex Kirschenbaum,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Yet after gesturing toward a promising thriller setup, the film soon begins to spin its wheels — doing little to complicate or tighten the melodrama, while only superficially probing its two principal characters as their romance is inevitably reignited.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
5 Feb. 2026
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Yet by simultaneously gesturing toward the audience, O’Hara also underscored the importance of bringing viewers into the fold.—
Paula Mejía,
The Atlantic,
4 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Waving.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waving. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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