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
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
Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025
As traders try to assess whether the trade spat will escalate, stocks are fluctuating and pausing their months-long ascent.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
Rather than being uniform and unambiguously associated with WASP-39b itself, the fluctuating signals of the compounds suggested episodic behavior to Oza and his colleagues, while the composition hinted at an external source.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2025
Exposure to fluctuating atmospheric conditions like humidity, temperature, or pressure causes the perovskite material to quickly decline in both efficiency and material properties.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2025
Earlier polling shows the opinions on the court’s political leaning generally fluctuating.
—Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
Whether that fluctuating dynamic between coach and players should have any lasting consequences is a matter for United’s board and owners which, as Amorim referenced in his pre-match press conference, includes the Glazers as well as Ratcliffe.
—Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
That number decreased significantly the following day, to 909, and continued to drop before fluctuating between about 30 and 300 applications for the duration of the application period.
—Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2025
Those payouts total almost $158 million, with the amount paid each year fluctuating — adding up to $19 million in 2020, for example, but reaching $36 million last year.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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
The home is constructed with Nordic wood, which not only is lightweight and easy to work with, but also resistant to weathering and decay from rain, snow, extreme temperatures, and fungus—a must in the fluctuating Southern climates.
—Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 15 Oct. 2025
As traders try to assess whether the trade spat will escalate, stocks are fluctuating and pausing their months-long ascent.
—John Towfighi, CNN Money, 15 Oct. 2025
Rather than being uniform and unambiguously associated with WASP-39b itself, the fluctuating signals of the compounds suggested episodic behavior to Oza and his colleagues, while the composition hinted at an external source.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2025
Exposure to fluctuating atmospheric conditions like humidity, temperature, or pressure causes the perovskite material to quickly decline in both efficiency and material properties.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2025
Earlier polling shows the opinions on the court’s political leaning generally fluctuating.
—Alia Shoaib, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Oct. 2025
Whether that fluctuating dynamic between coach and players should have any lasting consequences is a matter for United’s board and owners which, as Amorim referenced in his pre-match press conference, includes the Glazers as well as Ratcliffe.
—Laurie Whitwell, New York Times, 5 Oct. 2025
That number decreased significantly the following day, to 909, and continued to drop before fluctuating between about 30 and 300 applications for the duration of the application period.
—Arkansas Online, 2 Oct. 2025
Those payouts total almost $158 million, with the amount paid each year fluctuating — adding up to $19 million in 2020, for example, but reaching $36 million last year.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fluctuating
Adjective
-
Hundreds of people were killed in days of violence that shattered Kenya’s status as a stable democracy in a volatile region.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The film tracks their volatile relationship amid Kerr’s professional highs and lows in MMA, including his substance abuse struggles.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
15 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
In June, representatives for the county’s immigration hotline told the Alameda County For All committee about the limitations of the organization in responding to the rapidly changing needs of the county’s immigrants.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
17 Oct. 2025
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But with the upheaval in amateurism and conference realignment, the old NCAA bureaucracy has been changing.—
Luke Cyphers,
Sportico.com,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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But Amorim, who is approaching 12 months in charge of the club, acknowledges that football is an unpredictable industry and results will influence the mood among United’s hierarchy.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
17 Oct. 2025
-
The United States maintains overwhelming technological superiority but with increasingly unpredictable commitments.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The Type Of Cheese Matters Different cheeses have varying shelf lives once opened.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
13 Oct. 2025
-
Individual prices will range widely, with premiums for the same plan varying by state, Cubanski noted.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
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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After years of uneven results, prospects at main camp gave an indication that this season might be different.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
-
Geographic and demographic disparities The uneven distribution of EV charging infrastructure is a huge challenge.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Oklahoma signed up for the challenge of the SEC in making its tectonic-shifting realignment move.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
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The holiday affirms indigenous heritage, shifting the focus away from honoring Europeans who brought harm to Native peoples, historians note.—
Jenna Prestininzi,
Freep.com,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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These lasers can produce massive amounts of light, but the beam is often unstable and difficult to control.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
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But just because everything else is feeling unstable, this is almost the straw that breaks the camel's back for him.—
Patrick Gomez,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fluctuating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fluctuating. Accessed 19 Oct. 2025.
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