What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
waggle
Example
The bird wagged its tail feathers in excitement. [wagged: past tense]
Example
She wagged her finger at him, scolding him for his behavior. [wagged: verb]
jiggle
Example
The jello jiggled on the plate as she carried it to the table. [jiggled: past tense]
Example
He couldn't stop jiggling his leg during the meeting, causing a distraction. [jiggling: gerund or present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Jiggle is more commonly used than waggle in everyday language. Jiggle is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while waggle is less common and often used in specific contexts such as describing the movement of a dog's tail.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between waggle and jiggle?
Both waggle and jiggle are informal words and are not typically used in formal writing or speech.
