1
as in fluctuated
to move back and forth in a rhythmic manner
When a guitar string is plucked, it oscillates to produce sound waves in the air.
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2
as in alternated
to continuously change from one belief, feeling, or condition to an opposite one
The model's hair color oscillates between bleach blond and jet black.
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Recent Examples of oscillated
The tone oscillated between humor and provocation.
—
Spriha Srivastava, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2026
In other words, their systems oscillated between states of threat and shutdown, not a balanced state of safe emotional regulation.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Having oscillated between flowing lengths and a lob, Millie Bobby Brown is now officially Millie Bobby Bob again.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 19 Jan. 2026
An inconsistent scorer who oscillated between starting and the bench for the better part of four years.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
But Minnesota’s performances over the season’s first two and a half months consistently oscillated between awesome and awful.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2026
What national Democrats may consider In the past, the Democratic National Committee has oscillated between hosting the event in swing states and safe Democratic areas.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 4 Jan. 2026
In this sense, American politics may come to resemble Ukraine’s in the 1990s and early 2000s, which oscillated between democracy and competitive authoritarianism as pro-European or pro-Russian forces variously controlled the executive branch.
—Steven Levitsky, Foreign Affairs, 11 Dec. 2025
The researchers found that the hybrid wave periodically oscillated between sound and spin states.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Nov. 2025
Spriha Srivastava, CNBC, 21 Jan. 2026
In other words, their systems oscillated between states of threat and shutdown, not a balanced state of safe emotional regulation.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 20 Jan. 2026
Having oscillated between flowing lengths and a lob, Millie Bobby Brown is now officially Millie Bobby Bob again.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 19 Jan. 2026
An inconsistent scorer who oscillated between starting and the bench for the better part of four years.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 9 Jan. 2026
But Minnesota’s performances over the season’s first two and a half months consistently oscillated between awesome and awful.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 9 Jan. 2026
What national Democrats may consider In the past, the Democratic National Committee has oscillated between hosting the event in swing states and safe Democratic areas.
—Elliott Wenzler, Denver Post, 4 Jan. 2026
In this sense, American politics may come to resemble Ukraine’s in the 1990s and early 2000s, which oscillated between democracy and competitive authoritarianism as pro-European or pro-Russian forces variously controlled the executive branch.
—Steven Levitsky, Foreign Affairs, 11 Dec. 2025
The researchers found that the hybrid wave periodically oscillated between sound and spin states.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 29 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oscillated
Verb
-
The plane’s speed and altitude fluctuated significantly during the brief flight.—
Josh Funk,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The plane's speed and altitude fluctuated significantly during the brief flight.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Over a 15-minute Zoom call Monday, Chiefs coach Andy Reid alternated between expressing confidence in his former-but-now-new offensive coordinator and stumping for his most-recently former offensive coordinator to get a head coaching job elsewhere.—
Sam McDowell
January 27,
Kansas City Star,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Kevin Hassett, Kevin Warsh and Rick Rieder have alternated as favorites.—
Simon Moore,
Forbes.com,
24 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The door swung open on the second ring, and I was quickly ushered inside.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Jan. 2026
-
But then Goetz swung back around, assumed a combat stance, and began firing.—
Heather Ann Thompson,
The Atlantic,
26 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oscillated.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oscillated. Accessed 2 Feb. 2026.
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