1
as in fluctuating
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 alternating
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 oscillating
However, memory stocks are typically highly cyclical, oscillating between boom and bust cycles.
—
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
And Rihanna at 37 is the blueprint for modern sexy, oscillating between sheer gowns and oversized coats, all while pregnant, never allowing herself to be boxed in.
—Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 18 Aug. 2025
Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
And Rihanna at 37 is the blueprint for modern sexy, oscillating between sheer gowns and oversized coats, all while pregnant, never allowing herself to be boxed in.
—Karissa Mitchell, Essence, 18 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oscillating
Verb
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Five teenagers witnessed these lights fluctuating in sequence, suddenly diving at a 45-degree angle toward the water’s surface.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Sep. 2025
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The volatility of cryptocurrencies is significant, with prices frequently fluctuating sharply over brief durations.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Sigle started all three preseason games, alternating as a tandem with incumbent Ji’Ayir Brown and newcomer Jason Pinnock.—
Cam Inman,
Mercury News,
7 Sep. 2025
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Narrator Jacek Zubiel switches from Polish to English, alternating between Bethany and Nel’s colliding worlds.—
Jourdain Searles,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The production of the film itself was understandably an emotional undertaking, with the actors not actually hearing Rajab’s voice until cameras started rolling.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
3 Sep. 2025
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At dawn, the road to Lajatico in Tuscany winds through a dreamy world of rolling hills covered in vineyards that gently spill down into medieval villages frozen in time.—
Jim Dobson,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Weak to light shaking was detected, and people in multiple cities - such as Huntington Beach, Winchester, Menifee and Sun City - reported feeling the tremor, according to the USGS DYFI report.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Sep. 2025
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Homes of political party members and state buildings were ransacked or set ablaze, shaking investor confidence in the Southeast Asian economy and triggering a steep selloff on its stocks and currency markets on Friday.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The evening was packed with rocking performances, emotional tributes and an unexpected amount of love for therapists.—
Brendan Morrow,
USA Today,
8 Sep. 2025
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The youngest of those sisters, Rosa, is played by the aforementioned Charli xcx, contributing a serviceable performance that doesn’t demand much of her apart from the need to look ravishingly exotic and rocking her famous mane of brunette waves.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oscillating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oscillating. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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