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
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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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of wag
Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 7 Aug. 2024
Dikembe Mutombo, a Basketball Hall of Famer known for his finger wag after blocking a shot during his career, has died, the NBA announced Monday.
—Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 30 Sep. 2024
David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Dec. 2024
Written with compassionate perception by Jen Cordery and directed with a facile touch by Matt Cascella in his feature debut should find many in the audiences wagging their tails in approval.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wag 
Noun
So Michigan is going to get away with the biggest on-field cheating scandal in the history of college football with nothing more than a finger wag and slap on the wrist, right?
—Stewart Mandel, The Athletic, 7 Aug. 2024
Dikembe Mutombo, a Basketball Hall of Famer known for his finger wag after blocking a shot during his career, has died, the NBA announced Monday.
—Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 30 Sep. 2024
Verb
From the title on, Babygirl feels designed to get tongues wagging rather than lolling.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Dec. 2024
Written with compassionate perception by Jen Cordery and directed with a facile touch by Matt Cascella in his feature debut should find many in the audiences wagging their tails in approval.
—Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wag
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wag
Verb
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While his showing yesterday is unlikely to be shared quite as widely on social media as his fumbled catch against Sunderland in October, Meslier was caught in no man’s land when Kamara lobbed him in the first half before flapping at aerial balls in the build-up to the other two goals.Nancy Froston, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
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Upon entering the locker room, Kelce jumped around, pumping his fist in the air and flapping the jacket back and forth.Jordan Greene, People.com, 26 Dec. 2024
Verb
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At Paige and Craig’s party, Salley sits down with Madison and Paige to gossip.Brian Moylan, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2025
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The interaction caused quite a stir last year when many speculated Gomez had been gossiping about fellow nominee Timothee Chalamet and his date, Kylie Jenner.Kevin Lynn, Newsweek, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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By Tuesday morning a public bathroom that once stood on the wharf bobbed along the coast.Nathan Solis, Los Angeles Times, 24 Dec. 2024
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During a visit this month by NBC News, vacationers lounged on soft sand beaches and surfers bobbed in the water.Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 26 Dec. 2024
Verb
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The nipple heel is an I-gotcha-shoe, something to flick your nose at the discriminatory height rules of the Cannes Film Festival.Daniel Rodgers, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025
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These are the best action flicks currently on Hulu, updated monthly.Brian Tallerico, Vulture, 6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Foligno understands players can talk to the NHLPA and league about stiffer penalties.Michael Russo, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
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The ordeal worsened her already severe illness, leaving her virtually unable to eat, move, or talk for days after.Jamie Ducharme, TIME, 14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Venus will conjunct Saturn in Pisces — shaking your expansive ninth house of adventure, wisdom and belief systems — presenting you with a chance to harness your intuition and emotional intelligence to create a practical plan.Valerie Mesa, People.com, 17 Jan. 2025
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Back then, a nearly 3% devaluation shook markets everywhere.William Pesek, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
Verb
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As the omen begins to descend onto Karen’s house, the hairs of the mermaids’ arms stand up; their scales twitch in fear.Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2024
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Not the American economy, which twitched from panic to triumph to panic and, in 1907, had to be bailed out with private funds from Morgan and his associates.Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Before long a crew arrived at my home and a cement truck (holding up traffic on Saint Paul Street) was pumping tons of concrete through a little window that had served as a coal chute.Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 4 Jan. 2025
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The Bruins solved that issue against the Leafs by pumping four past Joseph Woll.Fluto Shinzawa, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near wag
Cite this Entry
“Wag.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wag. Accessed 21 Jan. 2025.
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