Thesaurus results for UNDULATE

Q: How does the verb 'undulate' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of undulate are fluctuate , oscillate , sway , swing , vibrate , and waver . While all these words mean "to move from one direction to its opposite," undulate suggests a gentle wavelike motion. // an undulating sea of grass

Q: When is 'fluctuate' a more appropriate choice than 'undulate'?

While in some cases nearly identical to undulate , fluctuate suggests constant irregular changes of level, intensity, or value. // fluctuating interest rates

Q: Where would 'oscillate' be a reasonable alternative to 'undulate'?

The words oscillate and undulate can be used in similar contexts, but oscillate stresses a usually regular alternation of direction. // an oscillating fan

Q: When can 'sway' be used instead of 'undulate'?

While the synonyms sway and undulate are close in meaning, sway implies a slow swinging or teetering movement. // trees swaying in the breeze

Q: When might 'swing' be a better fit than 'undulate'?

Although the words swing and undulate have much in common, swing implies a movement of something attached at one end or one side. // the door suddenly swung open

Q: When would 'vibrate' be a good substitute for 'undulate'?

The meanings of vibrate and undulate largely overlap; however, vibrate suggests the rapid oscillation of an elastic body under stress or impact. // the vibrating strings of a piano

Q: When is it sensible to use 'waver' instead of 'undulate'?

In some situations, the words waver and undulate are roughly equivalent. However, waver stresses irregular motion suggestive of reeling or tottering. // the exhausted runner wavered before collapsing

undulate

verb

Definition of undulate

as in to oscillate

formal to move or be shaped like waves undulating hills an undulating surface

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Synonym Chooser

How does the verb undulate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of undulate are fluctuate, oscillate, sway, swing, vibrate, and waver. While all these words mean "to move from one direction to its opposite," undulate suggests a gentle wavelike motion.

an undulating sea of grass

When is fluctuate a more appropriate choice than undulate?

While in some cases nearly identical to undulate, fluctuate suggests constant irregular changes of level, intensity, or value.

fluctuating interest rates

Where would oscillate be a reasonable alternative to undulate?

The words oscillate and undulate can be used in similar contexts, but oscillate stresses a usually regular alternation of direction.

an oscillating fan

When can sway be used instead of undulate?

While the synonyms sway and undulate are close in meaning, sway implies a slow swinging or teetering movement.

trees swaying in the breeze

When might swing be a better fit than undulate?

Although the words swing and undulate have much in common, swing implies a movement of something attached at one end or one side.

the door suddenly swung open

When would vibrate be a good substitute for undulate?

The meanings of vibrate and undulate largely overlap; however, vibrate suggests the rapid oscillation of an elastic body under stress or impact.

the vibrating strings of a piano

When is it sensible to use waver instead of undulate?

In some situations, the words waver and undulate are roughly equivalent. However, waver stresses irregular motion suggestive of reeling or tottering.

the exhausted runner wavered before collapsing

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 undulate The twisting blacktop was built for travelers seeking Appalachian overlooks and a panoramic drive for all seasons, with undulating slopes of color in the fall and a bounty of forest canopy in summer. — Sarah Rose, Travel + Leisure, 25 June 2026 In its place, the landscape turns to gently undulating hills spangled with cows or draped with vineyards. — Alissa Greenberg, Mercury News, 15 June 2026 The trail undulates a bit over rocky rises and occasionally detours into the woods, but experienced hikers shouldn't have any problems. — Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 7 June 2026 Plankton undulate with the movement of the waves. — Susan Cosier, Scientific American, 6 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for undulate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for undulate

Verb

Blood sugar levels oscillate throughout the day in reaction to food, sleep, and activities; significant variation in CGM values may lead parents to overreact.

— Lauren Chan, STAT, 8 July 2026
The commodity cycle will always oscillate, and the geopolitical map will always redraw itself.

— Anil Chintapalli, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Definition of oscillate

Verb

The cash flow from distribution is regular and constant, unlike advertising, which can fluctuate, this person says.

— Brian Steinberg, Variety, 7 July 2026
The testing evaluated the AI’s real-time performance under fluctuating conditions with the controller turned both on and off.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 6 July 2026

Definition of fluctuate

Verb

The iconic bunny costume moment, when Elle is tricked into showing up to a non-costume party wearing a Playboy bunny get-up, was the catalyst for exploring how Elle was able to shake that humiliation off.

— Scarlett Harris, IndieWire, 6 July 2026
This tournament has built credibility by showcasing teams competing at a high level, then shaking hands afterward.

— Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026

Definition of shake

Verb

The climbdown reflects the fact that, while America has been convulsed by a culture war over eligibility for female sports, the wider sporting world has moved on.

— Helen Lewis, The Atlantic, 1 July 2026
Britain was convulsed for years by the difficulty of agreeing to terms of divorce with Europe.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 25 June 2026

Definition of convulse

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“Undulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undulate. Accessed 12 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of undulate

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