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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.

Flag waving Sam Beswick, 80, from Littleover, Derbyshire, was put forward because of his work looking after Derby Cathedral.

From BBC • Apr. 1, 2010

Flag waving and appreciating police officers in our New Paradigm are wonderful, but how can Morrow say Sept.

From Time Magazine Archive

"You'll have your wish, sir, as long as I'm alive," Jack answered, turning and lifting his hat in simple yet eloquent salute to the Flag waving at the gunboat's stern.

From The Submarine Boys and the Spies Dodging the Sharks of the Deep by Durham, Victor G.

And the old Flag waving o'er us In the dancing morning sun Will be daily singing for us Of a splendor new begun.

From Over Here by Guest, Edgar A. (Edgar Albert)

When Day appear'd, it was astonishing to the whole Fleet to see the Union Flag waving at the Main-top-mast Head.

From Military Memoirs of Capt. George Carleton by Defoe, Daniel

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.