1
as in fluctuation
the frequent and usually sudden passing from one condition to another
fickle springtime weather in which there seemed to be an unceasing oscillation between unseasonable heat and unseasonable cold
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in vibration
a series of slight movements by a body back and forth or from side to side
the precise oscillations of the quartz crystal that allows a quartz watch to keep such accurate time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oscillation
The computer simulations enabled the team to break down those different sizes, revealing that the initial tail oscillations produce large vortex rings that generate thrust, and those larger ones then produce many more smaller vortices.
—
ArsTechnica,
2 May 2026
The team took advantage of the phase difference between the two oscillations to turn the ILO into a kind of frequency-to-phase converter circuit.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Apr. 2026
Two airflow outlets on either side of the loop can be configured for 0, 45, or 90 degrees of oscillation action.
—
John R. Delaney,
PC Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
That is an oscillation of the Moon, causing parts near the edge of the disc that are often not visible from the Earth to sometimes come into view.
—
Ray Petelin,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oscillation
ArsTechnica,
2 May 2026
The team took advantage of the phase difference between the two oscillations to turn the ILO into a kind of frequency-to-phase converter circuit.
—
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Apr. 2026
Two airflow outlets on either side of the loop can be configured for 0, 45, or 90 degrees of oscillation action.
—
John R. Delaney,
PC Magazine,
28 Apr. 2026
That is an oscillation of the Moon, causing parts near the edge of the disc that are often not visible from the Earth to sometimes come into view.
—
Ray Petelin,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oscillation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oscillation
Noun
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There is some fluctuation year to year in the baseball itself, though the league now owns and controls production of the on-field ball.
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Duration measures a bond’s price sensitivity to interest rate fluctuations, and bonds with longer maturity dates tend to have greater duration.
Noun
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Researchers have shown that existing telecommunication cables can record bridge vibration signatures.
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When a Formula 1 driver wears a Richard Mille in the cockpit, that watch is subjected to sustained G-loads, vibration and thermal extremes rarely encountered in traditional horology.
Noun
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Another notable change was Potter trusting Zetterström with the start as goalkeeper.
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Accidents and travel changes might occur late in the day.
Noun
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Casting near banks and using a twitching technique can increase success during the hatch.
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During this phase, octopuses display visible twitching along with rapid changes in skin color and texture, per NPR.
Noun
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Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
Noun
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All the trembling, as Kimbangu touched the sick, alarmed European settlers and reassured the plantation workers who trekked to Nkamba in search of healing.
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At first this change of scale vivifies the butterfly—its brief stillness, the angle of its wings, its trembling—while freezing everything else, including the novel’s action.
Cite this Entry
“Oscillation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oscillation. Accessed 27 Jun. 2026.
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