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
One part of this process – the famous waggle dance – was discovered decades ago.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 8 Dec. 2011
Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 9 May 2024
This part of the design also imparts a nice waggling action via its thin paddle tail.
—David A. Rose, Field & Stream, 20 Mar. 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.
—Verb
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.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for waggle
Noun
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The ripstop is applied to the shirt’s pointed Western yoke, collar and chest flaps.—
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However, drivers must remember to shut the DRS flap in a non-DRS zone.—
Verb
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Union carved out a niche in romantic comedies, starring in Two Can Play That Game (2001), Deliver Us from Eva (2003), and Breakin’ All the Rules (2004), in addition to action flicks like Cradle 2 the Grave (2003).—
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Bohm took a few steps, then flicked his bat into the air.—
Noun
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His fans got nuzzles, licks and tail wags in return.—
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According to Sweetie Pet Products, the position, speed, and direction of a wag all contribute to a canine's overall body language.—
Verb
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That ratio is naturally reversed here, though the director drops in a few snippets of the actual team near the beginning and the end, including a grainy, chilling shot of the real Lemons twitching near the ocean floor.—
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Kirk says that when a cat experiences changes in air pressure, which can also happen while riding in a car, their ears may move or twitch in response.—
Noun
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Food The top 10 Italian spots in L.A. from the 101 Best Restaurants guide March 14, 2024 The texture switches from chewy to soft, creamy to crisp in every spoonful.—
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Absent such an intervention, President Trump’s de facto tariff switch is likely to remain in the 'on' position.—
Verb
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The second player swings the ball across the top of the key to the second side.—
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The former mayor of Salzburg gave the project the go-head in 2024, but now a governmental skirmish has begun after the mayoral office swung from the political right to the left after an election.—
Noun
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Peña started an offensive overhaul last season, quieting his batting stance and eliminating the bat wiggle in his pre-pitch setup.—
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The charging case feels a little cheap, and there's some wiggle to the lid’s hinge, but at this price, that's to be expected.—
Verb
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The patrons were still as Tiger Woods’ ball flashed its Nike swish and stalled before the edge of the cup on No. 16.—
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Burks closed that avalanche by swishing a three just before the third quarter buzzer.—
Cite this Entry
“Waggle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waggle. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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