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
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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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oscillations
This prevents stray heat from disrupting the atoms’ oscillations.
—
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2025
First, oscillations, or sudden swings in power flow, hit the grid.
—Julia Simon, NPR, 8 Oct. 2025
Instead, gravitational waves, as natural quantum oscillations of space-time itself, are enough in this model to create the density fluctuations that lead to matter developing structures like galaxies, stars, and planets.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Scientists have continued to develop light-flickering stimulation to induce gamma-wave oscillations in Alzheimer's disease patients.
—New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2025
Political oscillations are as much of a challenge to dealing with climate change as climate change itself.
—Robert G. Eccles, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
These oscillations, between the excited state and the de-excited state, are what cause the emission of light.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 7 Aug. 2025
Stabilizing the oscillations following normal rules caused a slightly higher-than-usual voltage.
—IEEE Spectrum, 16 June 2025
Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2025
First, oscillations, or sudden swings in power flow, hit the grid.
—Julia Simon, NPR, 8 Oct. 2025
Instead, gravitational waves, as natural quantum oscillations of space-time itself, are enough in this model to create the density fluctuations that lead to matter developing structures like galaxies, stars, and planets.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Scientists have continued to develop light-flickering stimulation to induce gamma-wave oscillations in Alzheimer's disease patients.
—New Atlas, 2 Sep. 2025
Political oscillations are as much of a challenge to dealing with climate change as climate change itself.
—Robert G. Eccles, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
These oscillations, between the excited state and the de-excited state, are what cause the emission of light.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 7 Aug. 2025
Stabilizing the oscillations following normal rules caused a slightly higher-than-usual voltage.
—IEEE Spectrum, 16 June 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oscillations
Noun
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This could result in small fluctuations in the current of these jets that generate magnetic fields that cause further instability.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
5 Nov. 2025
-
These market fluctuations have affected everyone in the space, including OS Group.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
4 Nov. 2025
Noun
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They have been documented vibrating quickly in windy conditions and slower in mild weather, and these vibrations can provide scientists with valuable insights about a cactus’s internal structure.—
John Leos,
AZCentral.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
In conventional superconductors, these pairs are weakly bound and formed through vibrations in the atomic lattice.—
Aman Tripathi,
Interesting Engineering,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
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But after an offseason of making significant changes to its offense in response to last season’s historically bad playoff exit at the hands of the Cavaliers, Miami stood tall against Cleveland in their first meeting this season.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
11 Nov. 2025
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The New York Mets are sure to make roster changes this offseason after missing the playoffs this season.—
Shaun McAvoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oscillations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oscillations. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.
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