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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
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
For instance, light particles like positrons (or electrons, in this experiment) need extremely fast oscillations, gigahertz (GHz) frequencies, to stay confined.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 11 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
The oscillations are influenced by the structure of the Sun's interior, which is defined by flows of plasma within the convective layer.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Taken altogether, this explains the decrease in time between SN 2024afav’s luminosity oscillations and confirms Kasen’s magnetar theory.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 Mar. 2026
Casimir said the plates would act as a kind of guillotine for the electromagnetic field, chopping off long-wavelength oscillations in a way that would skew the zero-point energy.
—George Musser, Quanta Magazine, 5 Jan. 2026
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
For instance, light particles like positrons (or electrons, in this experiment) need extremely fast oscillations, gigahertz (GHz) frequencies, to stay confined.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 11 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
The oscillations are influenced by the structure of the Sun's interior, which is defined by flows of plasma within the convective layer.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Taken altogether, this explains the decrease in time between SN 2024afav’s luminosity oscillations and confirms Kasen’s magnetar theory.
—Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 11 Mar. 2026
Casimir said the plates would act as a kind of guillotine for the electromagnetic field, chopping off long-wavelength oscillations in a way that would skew the zero-point energy.
—George Musser, Quanta Magazine, 5 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oscillations
Noun
-
Mroz counters, however, that none of those cases are actual microlensing events and instead the mere fluctuations of ordinary variable stars.—
Jonathan O'Callaghan,
Scientific American,
4 June 2026
-
Primordial black holes are proposed to have formed through fluctuations in the incredibly hot and dense matter that filled the universe moments after the Big Bang.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
Bone studies have shown that 20 minutes of daily exposure to vibrations in that range produces measurable improvements in repair rates.—
Allison Palmer,
Miami Herald,
29 May 2026
-
Bone studies have shown 20 minutes of daily exposure to vibrations in that range produces measurable repair rate improvements.—
Allison Palmer,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Amanda is talking about her friendships with Ciara and West in confessional when the background suddenly starts to wobble, the lights flicker, and her outfit changes.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
3 June 2026
-
Food buyers are looking for authenticity Consumers are willing to pay more for products perceived as unique, traditional or carefully sourced — and that willingness is driving real changes in how food is sold.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
2 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oscillations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oscillations. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
