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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This also prevents your zippers from flapping around, jiggling, and possibly getting damaged in transit.—
Taylor Fox,
Travel + Leisure,
20 June 2025
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The glitter clung to the pavement, signs flapped in the breeze and chants rang out over the roar of traffic.—
Hanna Kang,
Oc Register,
14 June 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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Police shared links to two videos on the Heston James Instagram account that showed Cobb talking to employees at two different businesses, including what appeared to be a Chipotle and an auto repair shop.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
25 July 2025
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Joey’s parents encouraged him to talk to Sunseri and head coach DeShaun Foster to find out what was going on.—
Sam Khan Jr,
New York Times,
25 July 2025
Verb
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Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić shaking hands after signing bilateral documents during a meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, on May 8, 2024.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 July 2025
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Nikki Bella and Lola Vice were shaking their hips in the middle of the ring, and Wade Barrett encouraged Michael Cole to show them what he’s got.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
14 July 2025
Verb
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Buzzing, tingling, burning, twitching, itching or pain, along with a sensation of arousal.—
Linda Carroll,
NBC news,
6 July 2025
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The fearful pup stepped out to greet her, his tail twitching—his first show of trust in a long time.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 July 2025
Verb
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After Adams’ September 2024 indictment on corruption charges, Holliday turned to Cuomo, pumping $100,000 into a super PAC that boosted the ex-governor’s primary run.—
Chris Sommerfeldt,
New York Daily News,
14 July 2025
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These exercises increase your heart rate to pump more oxygenated blood to your muscles, which can improve your heart health over time.—
Aubrey Bailey,
Verywell Health,
14 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wag. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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