waddling

verb

present participle of waddle
as in lurching
to move forward while swaying from side to side the duck waddled back into the water we watched the penguins waddle over the ice together

Synonyms & Similar Words

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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 waddling Inside the house, a plastic bin in the TV room held a striped emu chick, waddling under a heat lamp. — Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 Yet one place that Merlin is allowed is inside Mexican leader Claudia Sheinbaum’s presidential palace, waddling onto stage on Monday morning for her daily briefing. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 26 June 2026 In less than two weeks, Merlín went from waddling through the streets of Mexico City during Mexico's opening victory to visiting the presidential palace. — ABC News, 24 June 2026 Once considered delightfully kitschy relics of suburban Americana, porch geese are waddling their way back into the spotlight. — Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 29 May 2026 Once all of the ducklings were tucked into the basket, the animals were carried to a nearby canal, with their mother waddling behind them. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 28 May 2026 The only telltale sign of what lies below the surface is a metal set of stairs, leading into the icy blue channel, and small groups of divers and snorkelers waddling across the gravel paths in full gear. — Carinne Geil Botta, Travel + Leisure, 16 May 2026 The Quiet Tragedy of the Bottle-Fed Fawn Imprinting is one of those words people toss around casually, usually attached to baby ducks waddling after a researcher. — Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026 Think penguins waddling back to the same partner each breeding season. — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for waddling
  1. lurching
  2. staggering
  3. shuffling
  4. weaving
  5. tottering
  6. rolling
  7. stomping
Verb
  • The United States, which had been lurching toward entry in the Second World War, was suddenly and inescapably thrust into global conflict.
    — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Republicans see Democrats lurching to the left and embracing socialism as an opening to link their opponents to the far more radical communism.
    — Garrett Downs, CNBC, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of lurching
Verb
  • The works depicted broken figures staggering toward the viewer in ragged uniforms — in distorted sizes, giant hands and small heads.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
  • The works depicted broken figures staggering toward the viewer in ragged uniforms — in distorted sizes, giant hand and small heads.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 May 2026
Definition of staggering
Verb
  • Summary The Chicago Cubs are currently shuffling their infield due to Dansby Swanson's oblique injury, moving Nico Hoerner to shortstop and Pedro Ramírez to second base.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Keeping your eye on Bredeson is as hard as tracking a ball beneath shuffling cups.
    — Alec Lewis, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of shuffling
Verb
  • In response, Ingka is weaving natural gathering spots into its properties.
    — Sam Birchall, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Each program explores specific themes by weaving a variety of stories, poems, and sometimes music together.
    — Point Loma-Ob Monthly, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of weaving
Verb
  • In an accompanying cartoon, Spark is caricatured as a sulking giant, tottering above the Tuscan countryside in a pair of high heels.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
  • Among them a City boy wearing three Fit-Bit-type devices, two beautiful Middle Eastern sisters, an outrageously pompous elderly American (sorry; eavesdropping), and several Imelda Marcos lookalikes, tottering out of the treatment rooms with, somehow, their elaborate hairstyles still intact.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026
Definition of tottering
Verb
  • The junior right-hander can be rolling to his left, then plant, turn and fire a pass, with his long, skinny arm, 60 yards downfield and right on the money.
    — Chris Hays, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Then, an unexpected turn of events set the ball rolling for a reunion.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of rolling
Verb
  • Each day, the women were woken at six, with the sounds of stomping boots and barking dogs.
    — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026
  • There's almost a ballad essence to it, even though it's got that stomping kick to it.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of stomping

Browse Nearby Words

waddles
waddling
waddy
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Cite this Entry

“Waddling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/waddling. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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