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
-
While the legacy portfolio saw sales fall by 12% year over year (or 13% excluding currency fluctuations), the decline was more than offset by 18% year-over-year growth (or 17% excluding currency fluctuations) for the growth portfolio.—
Zev Fima,
CNBC,
30 Oct. 2025
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That means that is may be that the fluctuations themselves, not just high pressure, also pose a threat.—
Lydia Patrick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Sensors first detect ice formation on specific sections of the wing, after which piezoelectric actuators are activated to generate low-frequency vibrations.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
-
Once the voltage reaches the MEMS resonators, an inverse piezoelectric effect is triggered, yielding billions of vibrations per second that generate acoustic waves in the surrounding fluid.—
Perri Thaler,
IEEE Spectrum,
30 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The deterioration in the labor market has been concentrated in payroll employment, which is the [datapoint] that is the most susceptible to demographic and immigration changes.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The strategy comes at a time when significant changes to existing business models remain uncertain across the entertainment landscape.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
3 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Oscillations.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oscillations. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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