WAVING Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

waving 1 of 2

noun

as in flapping

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Dissimilar Words

waving

2 of 2

verb

present participle of wave

as in motioning

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 waving

Noun

Similarly, the World Cup is a global phenomenon in which the waving of national colors reaches fever pitch. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 July 2026 Egypt has arrested and prosecuted gays and lesbians on the basis of vague indecency laws and has cracked down on any outward expressions of Pride, especially the waving of rainbow flags. — Andrew Destin, Chicago Tribune, 17 June 2026 With his own future still unconfirmed, Guardiola could be seen pumping his fists in celebration when Rayan Cherki slipped in the third goal and, after the final whistle, there was a victory walk around the pitch and a lot of affectionate waving and kiss-blowing. — Daniel Taylor, New York Times, 14 May 2026 It also has been roiled by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, stirring protests outside the venues and forcing organizers to clamp down on political flag-waving. — ABC News, 23 Apr. 2026 The flag-waving, the face paint, the pugnacious songs, the banners, the bellicose taunts at the opponents, the arms flung out in unison foster a collective spirit that can turn violent at times. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026 Flag waving, immigration restriction, and culture-war rallying cries can shore up the MAGA-tech coalition, but more will be needed to achieve lasting success. — Walter Russell Mead, The Atlantic, 24 Jan. 2026 Assuming whatever creature birthed from a spider egg was also a shapeshifter would even allow the show to bring back everyone’s favorite dancing clown in a modern-day context without too much hand-waving. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 15 Dec. 2025 Some 65,000 fans reveling in SDFC’s six goals scored and vibing off the supporter groups’ chants, drum-banging and flag-waving. — Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 Nov. 2025

Verb

The midfielder was booked for waving an imaginary yellow card, shown a straight red for violent conduct and also gave away a goal. — Stuart James, New York Times, 25 Aug. 2026 The last sidebar called by the judge before lunch appeared intense, with Reddington seen waving his hands a few times. — Nbc News, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2026 The witness said another person in a mask appeared, jumped over the counter, and demanded the register while waving a weapon. — Lauren Victory, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026 People sip rich hot cocoa and stroll from shop to shop, waving hello to friends and strangers alike as the Christmas tree is lit with bright lights in downtown Parkville. — Jenna Ebbers, Kansas City Star, 24 Aug. 2026 The Beaver’s Mini Mart mascot is a full beaver, unclothed, waving and smiling against a white background. — ABC News, 23 Aug. 2026 Columbia is not just an enclave but a neighborhood within a neighborhood, a 36-acre concentration of urban activity — activity that has always included regular doses of protest, speechifying, electioneering, and petition waving. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 19 Aug. 2026 What, one wonders, is the appropriate response to someone who bursts into the room waving $197 million of other people’s money and declares job one is making sure your flying car has a place to land? — Pat Beall, Sun Sentinel, 14 Aug. 2026 Mops of ghostly streamers, some of them longer than my arm, were waving like tentacles atop layers of black muck. — James Dinneen, New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waving

Noun

Symmetrical wing flapping generates forward thrust, while differential wing motion provides steering for smooth, quiet indoor flight.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026
In recent days, viewers were treated to the younger eagles practicing their wing flapping and preparing to make their first official flights.

— Kris Wernowsky, Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026

Definition of flapping

Noun

Unai Emery’s penchant for rehabilitating flailing, once prodigious talents now extends to Alejandro Garnacho.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 30 July 2026
This is not the approach of a president who’s running a war; this is the flailing of a man who’s in over his head and is reacting to events, rather than guiding them.

— Tom Nichols, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026

Definition of flailing

Verb

Lavie appeared in a jailhouse-yellow shirt and blue pants and looked distressed throughout the hearing, nodding and gesturing to friends at times.

— Richard Winton, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 2026
The novel also alludes to contemporary examples of violence in the country’s current, democratic system, gesturing to the ways in which brutality persists in Brazil as state and corporate power continue to commit violence with near impunity.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 24 July 2026