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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Recent Examples of oscillating
This heater has two heat settings and an oscillating base so heat is evenly distributed throughout your space.
—
Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Merokeety Fall Oversized Batwing Lounge Set Fall temperatures are notoriously unpredictable, oscillating between hot and cold, so a sweatshirt-and-shorts duo like this set from Merokeety will prepare for both climates.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2025
Quadrupole ion traps use four electrode poles to generate oscillating electric fields that confine ions.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2025
That such harmony could exist between an object-maker like Calder and an object-denier like Duchamp, who dreamed of an art made only of ideas, suggests that the engines of art are always oscillating.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Hotter objects give off more heat; their waves are more energetic, oscillating with a shorter wavelength.
—Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
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
Maggie Horton, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Merokeety Fall Oversized Batwing Lounge Set Fall temperatures are notoriously unpredictable, oscillating between hot and cold, so a sweatshirt-and-shorts duo like this set from Merokeety will prepare for both climates.
—Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 6 Oct. 2025
Quadrupole ion traps use four electrode poles to generate oscillating electric fields that confine ions.
—Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 22 Sep. 2025
That such harmony could exist between an object-maker like Calder and an object-denier like Duchamp, who dreamed of an art made only of ideas, suggests that the engines of art are always oscillating.
—Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
Hotter objects give off more heat; their waves are more energetic, oscillating with a shorter wavelength.
—Joseph Howlett, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oscillating
Verb
-
And while some rentals in the area offer on-site care at fluctuating market rates, as a Continuing Care Retirement Community, The Vi provides compassionate care at a more predictable cost, since those rates are built into a resident’s monthly fees.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
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In principle, besides fluctuating stars transients can be associated with other things, too, such as extreme space weather events impinging on the upper atmosphere, sunlight glinting off reflective objects near Earth, as well as flaws in the telescope or the imaging process.—
Jonathan O'Callaghan,
Scientific American,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Repeat, alternating dry ingredients and milk, until the batter is just mixed.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
6 Nov. 2025
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The label features a delicate garland stripe of winter berries and alternating stars set against a muted sage backdrop reminiscent of winter foliage.—
Gege Reed,
Louisville Courier Journal,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Start the process by vigorously shaking or hanging then pounding the rug to remove loose dirt, crumbs, and other particles, then vacuum it thoroughly on both sides, using a canister vacuum with the hose or a high pile setting—and no beater bar!—
Jennifer Beck Goldblatt,
Architectural Digest,
31 Oct. 2025
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Part of it was that Mark Kerr was sitting right beside him, shaking through the entire film—for many reasons.—
Clayton Davis,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Jim Irsay stood beside his private jet just days after the 2021 season ended and made sure the camera was rolling to capture his thoughts.—
James Boyd,
New York Times,
5 Nov. 2025
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The former governor lingered onstage after the cameras stopped rolling, shaking hands with donors and old friends, the trappings of power slipping away.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
5 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Figure skaters rocking the rink this year will include Olympians Jeremy Abbott, Nathan Chen, Keegan Messing, Mariah Bell, Polina Edmunds and Sinead Kerr Marshall with partner John Kerr, alongside viral sensation Elladj Baldé and Maxim Naumov.—
Gillian Telling,
PEOPLE,
10 Nov. 2025
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Here’s what to know about the scandal rocking Shein.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oscillating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oscillating. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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