zigzagnoun [ C ]
uk/ˈzɪɡ.zæɡ/us/ˈzɪɡ.zæɡ/zigzag noun [ C ] (LINE)
a line or pattern that looks like a Z or a row of Zs joined together:
a zigzag path/road/coastline
a fabric with a zigzag pattern
The kids ran in zigzags around the playground.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Patterns and shapes
- amorphous
- arabesque
- argyle
- bar
- cake
- contour
- geometry
- grain
- marbled
- misshapen
- motif
- mottled
- paisley
- silhouette
- spotted
- stripe
- striped
- stripy
- styloid
- take shape idiom
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zigzag noun [ C ] (CHANGE)
a situation in which actions, plans, or ideas change suddenly and completely, and then change back again equally suddenly:
The Washington Post complained of "two weeks of policy zigzags".
The country seems to have been following a zigzag course between democracy and dictatorship.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Changing frequently
- butterfly
- capricious
- changeable
- dipsy-doodle
- elasticity
- flighty
- fluidity
- inconstant
- inflammable
- kaleidoscopic
- mercurial
- mutable
- patchy
- shifting
- stutter
- turbulent
- unpredictable
- variable
- volatile
- yo-yo
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zigzagverb [ I ]
uk/ˈzɪɡ.zæɡ/us/ˈzɪɡ.zæɡ/-gg-zigzag verb [ I ] (MAKE SHAPE)
also zig and zag to make a movement or shape like a zigzag:
The road zigzags along a rocky coastline.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Bending, twisting and curving
- bent
- bowed
- buckle
- contort
- convoluted
- crook
- flexure
- fluted
- intertwine
- interweave
- knot
- matted
- meander
- meandering
- twiddly
- twine
- twisted
- twisty
- warp
- wring
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zigzag verb [ I ] (CHANGE)
to change suddenly and completely, and then change back again equally suddenly:
The market zigzagged during the day but finished higher in the afternoon.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Changing frequently
- butterfly
- capricious
- changeable
- dipsy-doodle
- elasticity
- flighty
- fluidity
- inconstant
- inflammable
- kaleidoscopic
- mercurial
- mutable
- patchy
- shifting
- stutter
- turbulent
- unpredictable
- variable
- volatile
- yo-yo
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