How to Use waddle in a Sentence

waddle

1 of 2 verb
  • A fat goose waddled across the yard.
  • He waddled down the hallway.
  • But Seymour did not opt for the waddling bird in the hand.
    — Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
  • Like, waddling-around, can't-see-your-feet, fifteen-chins fat.
    — Gretchen Hansen, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Nov. 2025
  • With a sigh, the German lady picks up her bags and waddles away.
    — Esther Yi, New Yorker, 14 June 2026
  • Think penguins waddling back to the same partner each breeding season.
    — Samantha Agate, Charlotte Observer, 13 Apr. 2026
  • Ursula waddles back into the ocean, knowing full well that sometimes girl code is the harshest weapon of all.
    — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 27 Nov. 2025
  • 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
  • When not flapping their wings, the chicks waddle around the nest, finding shady spots and playing with sticks and their dad's tail, the nonprofit said.
    — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 12 May 2026
  • Luna, the family’s Labradoodle, waddled in and lapped water from the bowl.
    — Literary Hub, 12 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
  • Grande then waddles out in the over-the-top ensemble, only to be met by Grombol, who breaks the bad news that the Christmas tree is no longer available to view.
    — Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 17 Dec. 2025
  • Partway up the trail, three penguins waddled past, entirely unbothered by the humans who stepped aside for them, and then belly-slid into the freezing water.
    — Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 May 2026
  • Eventually, the group waddles the alligator over to a waiting pickup truck and manages to lift the reptile even higher to push it into the bed of the truck.
    — Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 5 Dec. 2025
  • One solitary penguin rejects the breeding and feeding grounds of his fellow birds, and waddles toward icy mountains in the distance, undoubtedly to its death.
    — Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 26 Jan. 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
  • Minions & Monsters will waddle into theaters on July 1.
    — Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 9 Feb. 2026
  • When temperatures dropped below 30 degrees this month, the penguins waddled to warmth by going to their indoor enclosure.
    — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 31 Jan. 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
  • Built more like an elite defensive end than a traditional basketball player, Williamson waddled around between plays but was an undeniable force once the game began.
    — Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 12 June 2026
  • The furry white marsupials, which waddle back into remote areas — places where humans would not otherwise set foot — are almost like spies penetrating the secret lives of pythons.
    — Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 19 Apr. 2026
  • When temperatures are above 30 degrees, the penguins will waddle back outside to their traditional habitat, the aquarium said.
    — Michelle Del Rey, USA Today, 31 Jan. 2026
  • Video footage from Levi’s Stadium shows people dressed as trees waddling onto the field and taking position before Bad Bunny's performance kicks off.
    — Saman Shafiq, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
  • An intrepid sea lion nicknamed Chonkers is waddling his way into the hearts of tourists and locals who have flocked to San Francisco's Pier 39 for a glimpse of the massive pinniped.
    — ABC News, 30 Apr. 2026
  • When Paddington first waddles on stage during the new West End musical based on the beloved bear, the audience at the Savoy Theatre can hardly contain their excitement.
    — Ellise Shafer, Variety, 30 Nov. 2025
  • More serious collectors may prefer waddling to the local Cars & Coffee with an earlier VW, recalling a kinder, gentler, and far slower-paced time than our present age.
    — Robert Ross, Robb Report, 12 Sep. 2025
  • 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
  • In the post, the school district included a cute video of Violet waddling through the school's halls with this year's ducklings, the eight baby birds staying close to mom as Prairie Trail's students and staff members watch from a safe distance.
    — Joyann Jeffrey, PEOPLE, 8 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
  • In an October 23 Instagram video posted by user @jenjinete, a tiny Shih Tzu puppy can be seen waddling onto the porch, tail wagging rapidly, as the mailman approaches to make the day's delivery.
    — Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025

waddle

2 of 2 noun
  • Jango likes to walk around with a waddle, letting his thick coat sway back and forth.
    — Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2022
  • Faces in the crowd light up as a babydoll southdown sheep waddles into the ring.
    — John Pana, cleveland.com, 16 Aug. 2017
  • Game play involves collecting runs and three-of-a-kind sets of cards, known as waddles.
    — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 May 2026
  • Cut out the turkey's beak and waddle from the red and orange vinyl or colored paper.
    — Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 27 Nov. 2024
  • Twice a day, seven days a week, the famous fowl waddle single file through the lobby.
    — Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 27 Nov. 2025
  • Their fluffy faces and waddle-walk may seem pretty cute, but badgers keep some very tough company.
    — National Geographic, 14 Feb. 2020
  • In this case, the suit appears to be a little unweildy, forcing wearers to adopt a sort of waddle to move.
    — Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 31 Jan. 2026
  • At least the backgrounds are eye-catching, as a waddle of mallards crack jokes amid beautiful fall foliage.
    — Peter Debruge, Variety, 20 Dec. 2023
  • Just as a penguin waddles, changing your center of gravity will keep you upright.
    — Dana Hedgpeth, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2018
  • To the delight of visitors who watch from a boardwalk, the penguins waddle, swim, build nests, and groom each other.
    — Bella English, BostonGlobe.com, 13 Feb. 2018
  • Mario Cristobal takes over the Ducks, who should lose a waddle in the coaching transition.
    — Blair Kerkhoff, kansascity, 14 Dec. 2017
  • The property is known for its ducks, which swim in a fountain in the hotel lobby and waddle through the hotel daily.
    — Steve Kaskovich, star-telegram.com, 30 June 2017
  • The joyride ended with a walk down the tunnel in a huff, the seething noticeable in Jonathan Quick’s waddle.
    — Curtis Zupke, latimes.com, 23 Oct. 2017
  • In the video, Chu lays out food for Sage, but Sasha quickly hears the sound of the food and waddles into the kitchen.
    — Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
  • King penguins move by walking, as opposed to many other species that hop, which makes this big baby's awkward waddle even funnier.
    — New Atlas, 24 Sep. 2024
  • Like a prehistoric beast, the giant airship waddles down the runway, six hours from London.
    — Dan Saltzstein, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2017
  • Crowe doesn't impersonate Ailes so much as inhabit him, from his padded waddle to his thunderous bouts of anger.
    — Brian Lowry, CNN, 26 June 2019
  • Farrell’s Penguin is heavily scarred, walks with a waddle due to his club foot, and has an overbearing mother.
    — Dani Di Placido, Forbes, 28 Oct. 2024
  • Each time a turtle reached the water — after a 25-yard waddle down the beach — onlookers cheered until its hind flippers slipped out of sight.
    — Emily Williams, BostonGlobe.com, 3 July 2018
  • He is often drawn to physically resemble a penguin, dressed in a formal suit with a long birdlike nose, shuffling with a bit of a waddle.
    — Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2024
  • This one-step-forward-two-steps-back waddle, however, wasn't confined to the playoffs; the entire season was a string of stop signs after green lights.
    — Sarah McLellan, Star Tribune, 8 Aug. 2020
  • With his adorable waddle and Winston Churchill looks, the dog won over the judges and the fans— although his selection was a surprise to his handler.
    — Roxanne Roberts, Washington Post, 28 Nov. 2019
  • The show includes a waddle of penguins, a mischievous garden of flowers, a drag queen, and other fanciful characters.
    — oregonlive, 7 Dec. 2022
  • Domestic turkeys must pitch their bodies forward to stabilize themselves, keep their feet wider apart, take shorter, shuffling steps, and have a more pronounced waddle.
    — Paul M. Sutter, Discover Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
  • As the duck, Anderson executes diminutive waddles yet remains graceful and charming.
    — Sharma Howard, courant.com, 25 July 2017
  • Their striking appearance and jaunty waddles spark endless fascination among wildlife watchers and zoogoers alike.
    — National Geographic, 25 Apr. 2019
  • By the way, because Vidal can spare no form of mockery, we are introduced to George Washington as a man who walks with an ungainly waddle.
    — David Frum, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
  • Jacques de Vaucanson designed a number of things, the most notorious of which was an almost anatomically correct duck that could walk, quack, and waddle like a duck.
    — National Geographic, 11 Dec. 2016
  • As penguins squawk in the background and waddle around on small ridges, Boehme and his team look for seals to tag with sensors that will track the layer of warm water that’s thought to be melting Thwaites.
    — Stephen Witt, WIRED, 25 June 2019
  • Goslings waddle behind their mothers along deserted thoroughfares in Treviso.
    — The Economist, 16 Apr. 2020

Some of these examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'waddle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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