1
as in fluctuates
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 alternates
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oscillates
Wall Street often oscillates between hope and fear, euphoria and despair.
—
Zachary Karabell, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2026
Instead of the requisite Caesar salad, Kolender offers chicories dressed in an anchovy and black garlic vinaigrette that oscillates between sweet and deeply savory.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
This indicator oscillates between zero and 100.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026
This is the intriguing backdrop for a narrative that never really grips us, even if Chong has an artful way of depicting Hong Im’s lifestyle, which oscillates between real-world issues and religious wizardry.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
This one falls in the medium-firm category for support with just enough give to keep me comfortable, and as a person who oscillates between being too hot and too cold, the temperature regulation from season to season helps a lot.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2025
But few of the directors who would join V/H/S over the years that followed introduced a more memorable creature — a birdlike demon who oscillates from purring affection to ravenous rage — or so skillfully tracked the running bodies captured by a running camera.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
The roughly five-minute sequence is shot in tight close-up on Day-Lewis, who oscillates between anger, pain and gleeful contempt.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
Dano is joined by Jude Law as Putin; Alicia Vikander as Baranov’s beautiful wife Ksenia, who oscillates between a desire for bohemian freedom and wealth and influence, and Will Keen as real-life late oligarch Boris Berezovsky, a former ally of the Russian leader who became an exiled critic.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2025
Zachary Karabell, Washington Post, 27 Feb. 2026
Instead of the requisite Caesar salad, Kolender offers chicories dressed in an anchovy and black garlic vinaigrette that oscillates between sweet and deeply savory.
—Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 19 Feb. 2026
This indicator oscillates between zero and 100.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 16 Feb. 2026
This is the intriguing backdrop for a narrative that never really grips us, even if Chong has an artful way of depicting Hong Im’s lifestyle, which oscillates between real-world issues and religious wizardry.
—Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 27 Oct. 2025
This one falls in the medium-firm category for support with just enough give to keep me comfortable, and as a person who oscillates between being too hot and too cold, the temperature regulation from season to season helps a lot.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 16 Oct. 2025
But few of the directors who would join V/H/S over the years that followed introduced a more memorable creature — a birdlike demon who oscillates from purring affection to ravenous rage — or so skillfully tracked the running bodies captured by a running camera.
—A.a. Dowd, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
The roughly five-minute sequence is shot in tight close-up on Day-Lewis, who oscillates between anger, pain and gleeful contempt.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
Dano is joined by Jude Law as Putin; Alicia Vikander as Baranov’s beautiful wife Ksenia, who oscillates between a desire for bohemian freedom and wealth and influence, and Will Keen as real-life late oligarch Boris Berezovsky, a former ally of the Russian leader who became an exiled critic.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 31 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oscillates
Verb
-
The inherent value of some watches fluctuates on a daily basis because of the materials.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
-
When estrogen fluctuates wildly postpartum or during perimenopause, ADHD symptoms often get dramatically worse.—
Sarah Oreck,
SELF,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
And in our car, whoever is in the front seat gets to play the music, and that alternates day-to-day.—
Marah Eakin,
Vulture,
21 Jan. 2026
-
Among the services offered there is contrast therapy, which alternates heat and cold to promote circulation, reduce inflammation and help with muscle soreness.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Nearby, a robot undulates through water like a fish.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Tender early growth is vulnerable when the weather swings back to freezing.—
Beth Botts,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Software swings Salesforce bounced last week following a sustained period of underperformance.—
Morgan Chittum,
CNBC,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Williams turns his ear for propulsive and bombastic melodies onto traditional Japanese instrumentation, creating a work that sways between gentle, meditative themes for the titular geisha (Ziyi) and heart-pounding selections to fill out her chaotic, tragic life.—
Alex Galbraith,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Feb. 2026
-
In addition, the NFL argued that the NFLPA refused to share important information about its survey, including methodology such as whether the data is weighted or averaged, and how qualitative feedback sways results.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oscillates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oscillates. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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