Thesaurus results for WAVES

waves 1 of 2

noun

plural of wave

as in swells

a moving ridge on the surface of water the toddler was almost knocked down by the waves created by the speedboat

Synonyms & Similar Words

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waves

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of wave

as in motions

to direct or notify by a movement or gesture waved them over to the side of the road

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 waves

Noun

The Iranian diaspora spans multiple generations and waves of exile, from those who left after the 1979 revolution to more recent arrivals who fled crackdowns and protest movements. — Julia Vargas Jones, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026 Made for pretty much every texture, the airy foam gives fine-to-medium hair body without weighing it down, while helping define and smooth thicker waves and curls without sacrificing movement. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 28 Aug. 2026 In the centuries that followed, the Mission went from Mexican farmland to immigrant stronghold as waves of working-class European families moved into the neighborhood following the Gold Rush in the mid-1800s. — Marissa J. Lang, NPR, 28 Aug. 2026 The overwater bungalows are pretty special, hovering over lapping waves where guests can stay in total peace and solitude. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Aug. 2026 Caused by parasites spread via Anopheles mosquitoes, malaria can cause symptoms including nausea, headache and intense waves of fever and chills. — CBS News, 28 Aug. 2026 Playa Venao, Panama getty Playa Venao is one of Panama’s most popular beach towns, made famous by surfers who came in search of its consistent waves. — Kathleen Peddicord, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 Our thunderquake study revealed four distinct areas where seismic waves traveled much more slowly than through the surrounding rock. — Nolan Roth, Scientific American, 23 Aug. 2026 But what happened afterwards, the little motorcade went out to the airport, and Kennedy gets up, runs up, turns around, waves. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026

Verb

Picture a doorman who checks your ID with great care, then waves you into any apartment in the building. — Julian Durand, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026 The Spa At the beach-level spa, the windows were left wide open during my 60-minute Salt Air Reset massage, making all-natural birdsong and waves the soundtrack of my treatment. — Katie Nanton, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2026 My son waves his hands through my light and laughs and laughs. — Literary Hub, 20 July 2026 Ferrari is wary of a culture that diagnoses and labels nearly everything, and equally wary of the backlash that waves off deeper work as just talking. — Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 15 July 2026 Luke offers to change Nathan’s, but the bosun waves away the offer. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 14 July 2026 Not to the American fan who calls it soccer, waves the flag and doesn't apologize for loving his country. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 22 June 2026 Daddy Yankee waves the Puerto Rican flag on a float during the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City on June 14. — Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 17 June 2026 The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said tsunami waves up to 10 feet were possible on some coasts of the Philippines. — CBS News, 7 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waves

Noun

Life-threatening swells and rip currents are possible along east- and south-facing shores.

— Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 22 Aug. 2026
Additionally, life-threatening surf and rip currents are expected from swells generated by the depression.

— Marshall Shepherd, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of swells

Verb

The announcement signals that Anthropic is wading deeper into hardware, where rivals including OpenAI and Amazon have spent billions of dollars designing AI-native devices and manufacturing tools.

— Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
The autumn equinox signals the start of the fall in the Northern Hemisphere, according to the Old Farmer’s Almanac.

— Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026