vibratory
adjective
vi·bra·to·ry
ˈvī-brə-ˌtȯr-ē 
1
: consisting of, capable of, or causing vibration or oscillation
2
: characterized by vibration
Examples of vibratory in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
If another caterpillar wanders into their territory, these tiny critters start furiously drumming their heads, shaking their bodies and scraping their butts against the leaf—a series of complex vibratory behaviors to signal that their leaf tip is off-limits.
—
Rohini Subrahmanyam, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2025
In some cases, extra heart sounds like a third (S3) or fourth (S4) sound or brief, vibratory sounds (heart murmurs) may be present.
—Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 2 Dec. 2024
Glory be to god for this quiet, cheap hotel room:
only music the mini-fridge’s vibratory drone,
creaky plumbing groaning through the walls.
—Virginia Konchan, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024
Voluntary muscle contractions were thought to cause the vibratory component of purring.
—Jorge Garay, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2023
Dorrance breaks out to the vibratory sounds of the saxophone, played by Matt Parker.
—Catherine Tharin, BostonGlobe.com, 21 July 2023
When these bodies are struck gently, but periodically, although each blow may be separately quite insufficient to produce a sensible motion in the vibratory body … very large and powerful oscillations may result.
—Samuel Ernest, Longreads, 2 May 2023
The idea of using vibratory stimulation to improve human balance is not new.
—IEEE Spectrum, 3 Nov. 2014
The devices on display include a vibratory chair, which supposedly cured constipation and headaches through shaking so violent that patients had to hold tight to its handles, and a fluoroscope, once casually used in shoe stores to X-ray customers’ feet.
—Emily Elert, Discover Magazine, 30 Mar. 2012
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Rohini Subrahmanyam, Scientific American, 22 Apr. 2025
In some cases, extra heart sounds like a third (S3) or fourth (S4) sound or brief, vibratory sounds (heart murmurs) may be present.
—Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 2 Dec. 2024
Glory be to god for this quiet, cheap hotel room:
only music the mini-fridge’s vibratory drone,
creaky plumbing groaning through the walls.
—Virginia Konchan, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024
Voluntary muscle contractions were thought to cause the vibratory component of purring.
—Jorge Garay, WIRED, 31 Oct. 2023
Dorrance breaks out to the vibratory sounds of the saxophone, played by Matt Parker.
—Catherine Tharin, BostonGlobe.com, 21 July 2023
When these bodies are struck gently, but periodically, although each blow may be separately quite insufficient to produce a sensible motion in the vibratory body … very large and powerful oscillations may result.
—Samuel Ernest, Longreads, 2 May 2023
The idea of using vibratory stimulation to improve human balance is not new.
—IEEE Spectrum, 3 Nov. 2014
The devices on display include a vibratory chair, which supposedly cured constipation and headaches through shaking so violent that patients had to hold tight to its handles, and a fluoroscope, once casually used in shoe stores to X-ray customers’ feet.
—Emily Elert, Discover Magazine, 30 Mar. 2012
Cite this Entry
“Vibratory.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vibratory. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
vibratory
adjective
vi·bra·to·ry
ˈvī-brə-ˌtōr-ē
-ˌtȯr-
: consisting of, capable of, or causing vibration
Medical Definition
vibratory
adjective
vi·bra·to·ry
ˈvī-brə-ˌtōr-ē, -ˌtȯr-
1
: of, consisting in, capable of, or causing vibration or oscillation
cutaneous vibratory sensation
2
: characterized by vibration
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