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Showing results for flag-waving. Search instead for Flag+Waving.
Synonyms

flag-waving

American  
[flag-wey-ving] / ˈflægˌweɪ vɪŋ /

noun

  1. an ostentatiously emotional display of patriotism or factionalism.


flag-waving British  

noun

  1. informal

    1. an emotional appeal or display intended to arouse patriotic or nationalistic feeling

    2. ( as modifier )

      a flag-waving speech

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of flag-waving

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The Fourth of July holiday is one of the 12 recognized federal holidays in the U.S., and has become one filled with parades, fireworks, concerts and other American flag-waving events.

From MarketWatch Jul. 1, 2026

He said he was “particularly impressed” by the flag-waving children, saying, “They were happy, they were beautiful.”

From The Wall Street Journal May 14, 2026

Fernandez, dressed in a cream blazer dress, took the oath of office before a large crowd of flag-waving supporters in the National Stadium of San Jose, Costa Rica's capital.

From Barron's May 8, 2026

Leader Sir Ed Davey was greeted by a flag-waving crowd of party activists as he led a marching band through Bournemouth Central Gardens, twirling a baton - a deliberately patriotic twist on his trademark stunts.

From BBC Sep. 20, 2025

The Duchess and I were two tired mice by the time the Princess rolled out of the palace gates, behind her royal mother, into the sea of flag-waving humans.

From "Secrets at Sea" by Richard Peck

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