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 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 As these frequencies are extremely stable, counting their oscillations provides an exceptionally accurate way to measure time. Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 13 June 2026 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 European markets’ Tuesday oscillations followed a four-day Easter break, after finishing Thursday’s session in mixed territory. Hugh Leask,joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oscillations
Noun
  • Tools exist to track productivity fluctuations, absenteeism and other performance indicators for clues into employees’ state of mind.
    Jennifer Lee, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
  • Even following the same recipe twice can yield inconsistent results due to temperature fluctuations throughout the year.
    Shirl Leigh July 16, New Atlas, 17 July 2026
Noun
  • Crickets and cockroaches have much smaller cerci used to sense vibrations in the air, but Stokes explained that earwigs use their cerci for defense, hunting, mating and courtship.
    Hannah Smith July 22, Idaho Statesman, 22 July 2026
  • Its lateral line system, a sensory network that helps detect movement and vibrations in water, is also arranged differently.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Noun
  • Hiring Epstein as president of baseball operations after the 2011 season led to sweeping changes.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 19 July 2026
  • In recent years, Morocco has also undertaken deep structural changes that have significantly improved its investment climate.
    Panorama Media Ltd, Miami Herald, 19 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Oscillations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oscillations. Accessed 24 Jul. 2026.

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