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

Related Words

Relevance

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 Suburbs stretch their undulating freeways into the grid, sucking out nutrients (and cutting through neighborhoods). — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026 Real manta rays propel themselves by rhythmically flapping and undulating their enormous pectoral fins. — New Atlas, 8 Sep. 2026 The pinkish squid glided two miles beneath the surface, its long, pale legs trailing from undulating fins, stunning scientists who know remarkably little about its diet, behavior or reproduction. — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026 An avant-garde pick, the Olivera floor lamp from Lulu and Georgia boasts an undulating wicker frame. — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for undulate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for undulate

Verb

Understanding these effects could help identify the physical limits of controlling electrons with rapidly oscillating light fields.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026
The following performances were, to borrow from West’s lexicon of rehearsal instructions, an oscillating mix of corny and crispy.

— Nolan Kelly, Artforum, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of oscillate

Verb

The reason is related to the price of natural gas that fluctuates, leading to high charges on bills, like in the past, or credits that are expected to last for a one-year period until next May.

— Christopher Keating, Hartford Courant, 28 Oct. 2026
The researchers combined thermodynamic modeling with an economic analysis to examine how storing and releasing reactor heat could improve operational flexibility and help nuclear plants respond to fluctuating electricity prices.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of fluctuate

Verb

Before joining the postgame handshake line, Bidunga turned toward the KU student section in the south end zone, waved and blew a kiss goodbye to the same fans who had booed him during warmups, introductions and throughout the game.

— Gary Bedore, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026
One notice was handed to Nasir Malik, a community activist in a New Delhi quarter called Mustafabad, who waved it around on a recent day.

— Diaa Hadid, NPR, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of wave

Verb

The big night As a photographer’s shutter clicks, Folger flutters a mascara wand over her lashes while preparing for opening night at the Elysian.

— Meredith Maran, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026
To achieve that fluttering action, the material in these baits is very soft.

— Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of flutter

Verb

This relies on two tweeters wedged between the display glass and the frame, and two woofers under the glass, which vibrate against the screen to generate bass.

— Eric Zeman, PC Magazine, 28 Oct. 2026
Providers usually make three to four quick injections along the lower part of the muscle, sometimes with numbing cream or a vibrating tool, then apply ice.

— Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of vibrate

Verb

The layout splits between a restaurant and a cocktail bar, with a listening lounge tucked into the back corner, whose walls come alive with flickering anime cartoons.

— Jaclyn DeGiorgio, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Oct. 2026
Or to be up high and see that, down below, a town is just a grid spread out on a map and nothing more, a grid that flickers with lights that spark on as the darkness commences.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of flicker

Verb

Simply to give us the gruesome scene of the kid convulsing to death while leaking blood from his eyes, nose, and mouth.

— Chris Klimek, Vulture, 9 Sep. 2026
Hong Kong’s position as a once-outspoken corner of China has been upended in recent years by a national security crackdown following huge and often violent democracy protests that convulsed the city in 2019.

— Chris Lau, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of convulse

Browse Nearby Words

undulant

undulate

undulated

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Undulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undulate. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of undulate

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Podcast

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

reticent

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Pwn, Skibidi, Girlboss and Other Words Added to the 2026 Scrabble Dictionary

The Words of the Week - Oct. 30

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes