waffle

1 of 3

noun (1)

waf·​fle ˈwä-fəl How to pronounce waffle (audio)
ˈwȯ-
Synonyms of wafflenext
: a crisp cake of batter baked in a waffle iron

waffle

2 of 3

verb

waffled; waffling ˈwä-f(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce waffle (audio)
ˈwȯ-

intransitive verb

1
: equivocate, vacillate
waffled on the important issues
also : yo-yo, flip-flop
2
: to talk or write foolishly : blather
… can waffle … tiresomely off the point …—The Times Literary Supplement (London)
waffler
ˈwä-f(ə-)lər How to pronounce waffle (audio)
ˈwȯ-
noun

waffle

3 of 3

noun (2)

: empty or pretentious words : tripe

Synonyms of waffle

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Verb

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Examples of waffle in a Sentence

Verb she waffled when asked what she thought of her sister's new boyfriend
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
Ice cream served in a waffle cone costs $9 or $8 in a cup. — Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado june 27, Sacbee.com, 27 June 2026 There are chips, waffles, pancakes, ice cream, and ready to drink coffee and other beverages. — Krysta Escobar, CNBC, 28 June 2026
Verb
For one, action bias is not always bad — sometimes things genuinely need to get done, not waffled over. — Aiko Bethea, Big Think, 22 Apr. 2026 That leads into a finish that waffles between praline and dark fruit leather (fig and cherry), in addition to dark tea tannins. — David Thomas Tao, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for waffle

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Dutch wafel, from Middle Dutch wafele; akin to Old High German waba honeycomb, Old English wefan to weave

Verb

frequentative of obsolete woff to yelp, of imitative origin

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1744, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1868, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

circa 1888, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of waffle was in 1744

Phrases Containing waffle

Rhymes for waffle

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Browse Nearby Words

waffie
waffle
waffle cloth
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Waffle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/waffle. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

waffle

1 of 2 noun
waf·​fle ˈwäf-əl How to pronounce waffle (audio)
ˈwȯf-
: a crisp cake with an indented crust made by cooking batter in a waffle iron

waffle

2 of 2 verb
waffled; waffling
1
: to be unable or unwilling to be clear about choices or opinions
also : to make a sudden reversal (as of policy)
2
British : to talk or write a lot without saying anything important

More from Merriam-Webster on waffle

Nglish: Translation of waffle for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about waffle

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