wag 1 of 3

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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wag

2 of 3

noun (2)

wag

3 of 3

verb

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2
3
as in to bob
to make short up-and-down movements the bird's head wagged jerkily as it looked for worms

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wag
Noun
But come on, don’t take the wag out of the puppy’s tail. Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 27 Feb. 2025 Owners might also see a tail wag or soft eyes associated with the nose-booping. Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 22 Feb. 2025
Verb
The 3-year-old British Labrador — shiny black, a bit small for her breed — scurries onto the burn site, pushing her nose into piles of ash, moving from one spot to another, wagging her tail the whole time. David Wharton, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2025 With his eyes glued shut, Ozzy's tail kept wagging back and forth. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wag
Verb
  • Simplot responded by making the flagpole taller to reduce its flapping noise.
    David Staats, Idaho Statesman, 1 Apr. 2025
  • The small grey bird flaps around the cage, sticking to the far end of the box, away from the looming reptile.
    Rachel Raposas, People.com, 1 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Olympia and Matty try to get their mind off their troubles by day drinking and gossiping about Julian and Shae.
    Noel Murray, Vulture, 30 Jan. 2025
  • Toward the end of the movie, the nieces are back in the larder, gossiping among the cabbage and kitchenware.
    Namwali Serpell, The New Yorker, 25 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The vibe of the night Throughout the night, heads bobbed and people couldn’t help but dance to the beats played by DJ Los Boogie.
    Talia McWright, Twin Cities, 31 Mar. 2025
  • Only two of the crewman were pulled into the other lifeboat that held Minch and his family, and the vessel bobbed in the darkness amid rough weather for 10 hours, experts said.
    Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 11 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The Chelsea captain picked out Mac Allister’s darting run, and the Liverpool midfielder flicked the ball cleverly over a desperate Bento.
    Felipe Cardenas, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
  • Masterminded by hairstylist Peter Burkill, a fair few inches have been eliminated from Brown’s mane, leaving her with a thick and voluminous chin-grazing bob that gently flicks inwards towards the ends.
    Ranyechi Udemezue, Vogue, 26 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Worse yet, has Lutnick ever talked with a friend or relative in his or her 70s or 80s who depends on Social Security to cover basic bills?
    Susan Tompor, USA Today, 8 Apr. 2025
  • Prior to the premiere, O’Brien talked to Variety about the challenge of playing dual parts.
    Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The back-and-forth over tariffs shook confidence in U.S. leadership, exposed fractures within Trump’s team and rattled companies that rely on global sources for products and international customers for sales.
    Time, Time, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Trump's punishing tariffs have shaken a global trading order that has persisted for decades, raised fears of recession, and driven worldwide stocks sharply downward.
    Joe Cash and Trevor Hunnicutt, USA Today, 9 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • In the footage, the faceless android is seen suspended from the ceiling, its limbs twitching and moving in an unsettlingly human-like manner.
    Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report, Fox News, 11 Mar. 2025
  • For example, dogs who love running might be twitching their paws while dreaming.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 28 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • A lot of hard work, a lot of great teammates pumping me up.
    Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • To get the fans pumped before park gates open people may be planning tailgating parties.
    Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 31 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wag. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.

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