1
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
a fluctuating stock market makes it hard for investors to know what to do
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in changing
not staying constant
our speed was constantly fluctuating, so the figure of 50 miles per hour is just an average
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in varying
to pass from one form, state, or level to another
temperatures will fluctuate between the low and high 50s today
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fluctuating
Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Oct. 2025
Many rival fans have had a good laugh at Tottenham and their wildly fluctuating results this season.
—Nick Miller, The Athletic, 13 Dec. 2024
The same amount of water per unit time can arrive as a smooth, steady rain of many small drops or as a strongly fluctuating shower with fewer but much larger drops.
—Douglas Natelson, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2024
Irwin said that the characters’ runaway emotions are mirrored by the wildly fluctuating time signatures.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 25 Jan. 2024
Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 25 Jan. 2026
Your weight is fluctuating for no apparent reason Poor gut microbiome health can really mess with your metabolism, which can lead to weight changes.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 23 Jan. 2026
Northern lights were reported across mid-latitudes, with sightings stretching from Germany to the southwestern United States, including New Mexico, during a night of rapidly fluctuating geomagnetic conditions that fluctuated between G1, G2, G3 and G4 storm levels.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 20 Jan. 2026
This time, Carrick has 17 games in charge, with Wilcox telling players the aim should be Champions League qualification, given the fluctuating form, and European participation, of several rivals.
—Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Longer sleeves and hems naturally offer more coverage, while winter accessories such as scarves and gloves can be a fashionable way to approach the fluctuating weather.
—Julia Guerra, InStyle, 15 Jan. 2026
These areas, with predominantly Black populations, face unique challenges such as lack of transportation, disinvestment and a fluctuating job market, experts say.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
Wood absorbs moisture, and the fluctuating temperature will make the wood expand and contract, potentially causing cracks and splits.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Jan. 2026
Plus, Malekzadeh said that the estrogen changes in the rats happened abruptly, which doesn’t reflect the gradual and fluctuating loss women experience due to perimenopause and menopause.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Don’t Leave Pumpkins to Extreme Elements Pumpkins prefer consistency, so fluctuating temperatures—such as freezing nights followed by warm, sunny days—can weaken them.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Oct. 2025
Many rival fans have had a good laugh at Tottenham and their wildly fluctuating results this season.
—Nick Miller, The Athletic, 13 Dec. 2024
The same amount of water per unit time can arrive as a smooth, steady rain of many small drops or as a strongly fluctuating shower with fewer but much larger drops.
—Douglas Natelson, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2024
Irwin said that the characters’ runaway emotions are mirrored by the wildly fluctuating time signatures.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 25 Jan. 2024
Verb
Unfortunately, basements experience fluctuating temperatures and high humidity levels, which can cause severe damage to materials like wood and fabric, especially in the winter.
—Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 25 Jan. 2026
Your weight is fluctuating for no apparent reason Poor gut microbiome health can really mess with your metabolism, which can lead to weight changes.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 23 Jan. 2026
Northern lights were reported across mid-latitudes, with sightings stretching from Germany to the southwestern United States, including New Mexico, during a night of rapidly fluctuating geomagnetic conditions that fluctuated between G1, G2, G3 and G4 storm levels.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 20 Jan. 2026
This time, Carrick has 17 games in charge, with Wilcox telling players the aim should be Champions League qualification, given the fluctuating form, and European participation, of several rivals.
—Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2026
Longer sleeves and hems naturally offer more coverage, while winter accessories such as scarves and gloves can be a fashionable way to approach the fluctuating weather.
—Julia Guerra, InStyle, 15 Jan. 2026
These areas, with predominantly Black populations, face unique challenges such as lack of transportation, disinvestment and a fluctuating job market, experts say.
—Addison Wright, Chicago Tribune, 15 Jan. 2026
Wood absorbs moisture, and the fluctuating temperature will make the wood expand and contract, potentially causing cracks and splits.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Jan. 2026
Plus, Malekzadeh said that the estrogen changes in the rats happened abruptly, which doesn’t reflect the gradual and fluctuating loss women experience due to perimenopause and menopause.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 7 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fluctuating
Adjective
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Key's Jerry is a disruption through and through, knocking everything just a little off-kilter with each volatile appearance.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
9 Jan. 2026
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Paul Weller is still a godlike figure, but the Jam themselves had a really distinct chemistry and sounded very volatile onstage and are among the great punk groups.—
Devon Ivie,
Vulture,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In some studies, gloves not changed between tasks had higher bacterial counts and could transfer germs just as easily as ungloved hands, underscoring the need for frequent changing and proper hand hygiene.—
Evan Moore
December 19,
Charlotte Observer,
19 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Technology executives told me that agents are being implemented, but there are varying degrees of scale and capabilities.—
Arjun Kharpal,
CNBC,
24 Jan. 2026
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As planets in our solar system orbit the sun at varying speeds, sometimes their orbital paths bring them close together on the same side of the sun.—
Eric Lagatta,
AZCentral.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Portfolios Over Individual Stock Selections Individual stocks are unpredictable.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
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This approach addresses a common limitation of conventional robotic architectures, where perception, planning, and control are handled by separate components that can struggle to respond to unpredictable environments.—
Jijo Malayil,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Kuminga then saw a combination of injuries and uneven performances lead to lessened playing time before eventually falling out of the rotation altogether.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Yet access to the advanced financial skills required for these roles remains uneven.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But this year, the discussions went beyond AI models or which chatbot is better, shifting instead to how enterprises will adopt the technology and what future developments are on the horizon.—
Arjun Kharpal,
CNBC,
24 Jan. 2026
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The job apocalypse may not be here just yet, but the nature of work is already shifting in ways that could be hard to reverse — or even meaningfully predict.—
Anisha Sircar,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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Rigorous, blustery winter; winding sleety spring; hot, moist enervating summer; changeful autumn with its dog-days; these are absolutely unknown.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Jan. 2023
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Hers is the kind of face that inspires directors to tight framing — gleaming, as if smoothed from marble, and yet somehow pliant, changeful.—
Jordan Kisner Jack Davison,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2022
Adjective
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Gaza remains highly unstable despite a ceasefire that has largely halted large-scale fighting.—
Willem Marx,
NPR,
22 Jan. 2026
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Authorities have deployed police around the plaza to prevent relatives from entering the unstable structure, while rescuers continue their careful search.—
Adil Jawad,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Fluctuating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fluctuating. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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