oscillations

plural of oscillation
1
as in fluctuations
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

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2
as in vibrations
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

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of oscillations Scientists defined 1 second as exactly 9,192,631,770 of these oscillations. — Vahe Peroomian, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026 And the disturbing oscillations are a journey from uncertainty to insight, a train ride from introspection to moral resolution. — Ben Corn, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep. 2026 Outside the lab Wideband oscillations have previously been linked to major disruptions in power systems. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 17 Sep. 2026 On 28 April 2025, a series of power oscillations, voltage gaps, and reactive power control failures set off a cascade of disconnections across the Iberian Peninsula. — IEEE Spectrum, 29 Aug. 2026 Hoell and his colleagues analyzed nearly four decades of El Niño and La Niña oscillations and wildfire burn areas to understand how often the fire season mirrors the climate cycle. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026 Rapid oscillations trigger muscle contractions that can indirectly support lymph movement. — Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026 When two black holes collide, their song ripples through the very fabric of existence, creating a thundering chorus of oscillations in spacetime that echo across the universe like the fading gong of a bell. — Sam MacDonald, Scientific American, 26 June 2026 Scientists do not yet know exactly what causes the oscillations. — Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 15 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oscillations
Noun
  • The fluctuations and short blackouts eventually damaged the machine.
    — Catherine Ellis, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
  • This proposition would allow California to continue funding state-run, essential services during fluctuations.
    — Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 9 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The Dome, with its spatial sound and vibrations, seemed to help create the conditions for turning my attention inward.
    — Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Prestin is a protein found in specialised hair cells that amplify sound vibrations within the cochlea, helping to fine-tune our hearing.
    — Mike McRae October 07, New Atlas, 7 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • Capitalizing on a time of deindustrialization and demographic changes in a heavily Hispanic city, the law galvanized a base of white, working-class supporters.
    — Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
  • Luna implores Yue, recently divorced, not to get stuck in a holding pattern, either in her career or her relationships — but Luna, too, needs to make some changes.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Oscillations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oscillations. Accessed 13 Oct. 2026.

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