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

Every September 11th, people assemble near Ground Zero for the tolling of a bell, the whispering of prayers, the offering of flowers, the waving of flags. — Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 6 Sep. 2026 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 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

At the conclusion of an English-language service interspersed with hymns in Arabic, the priest introduced Salazar, who stood up in the front row, smiling and waving. — Daniel Castro, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2026 Small protests were also held in financial capital Mumbai and tech hub Bengaluru, while student organizations held a demonstration in the eastern city of Patna, with people waving flags of their organizations and pushing against police barricades. — CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026 Thousands rallied in New Delhi, waving Indian flags and demanding the resignation of election chief Gyanesh Kumar as protests against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government intensify. — Sheikh Saaliq, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026 Court documents state that multiple people saw Flores waving the machete and talking to himself. — Logan Hall, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 These giant humpbacks, a pod of them came up and around us and started breaching and started waving. — William Earl, Variety, 16 Oct. 2026 Hicks drove the next pitch to right-center for a 3-0 lead, electrifying the towel-waving, cowbell-ringing crowd of 32,125 fans at Tropicana Field. — Rob Maaddi, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026 In Mexico, there was a park with soccer goal posts, homes and a woman waving. — ABC News, 13 Oct. 2026 The Lithuanian Parliament moved to allow nuclear weapons on its soil, with a final vote to take place in January, as the Kremlin is already waving red flags over the move. — Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 12 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for waving

Noun

The speed of my spinning nunchucks wasn’t nearly as fearsome as the flapping of my upper arm flab.

— Johanna Stein, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026
Symmetrical wing flapping generates forward thrust, while differential wing motion provides steering for smooth, quiet indoor flight.

— Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026

Definition of flapping

Noun

Horgan remains a magnetic screen presence and a sharp comic writer, making Alex’s flailing ever enjoyable despite her aimlessness.

— Alison Herman, Variety, 20 Sep. 2026
Unai Emery’s penchant for rehabilitating flailing, once prodigious talents now extends to Alejandro Garnacho.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 30 July 2026

Definition of flailing

Verb

Prescott then can be seen speaking to Cowboys security and gesturing toward the other man.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
The league on Monday suspended line judge Jeff Seeman for two games for swearing at Arizona’s Trey McBride and referee Adrian Hill for one game for yelling and gesturing at Minnesota’s Eric Wilson.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Oct. 2026