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 next

as in to oscillate

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

Related Words

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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 By the ‘80s, the garden was gone, replaced by a pavilion by Hardy Holzman Pfeiffer — a postmodern Mesopotamian gate with glass blocks and undulating turquoise handrails. —

Bloomberg, 24 Apr. 2026 Miller also strategically employs the Pietà in his Confederate Women’s Monument, turning to Michelangelo’s later Depositional group from the Pietà Bandini, in which the dead Christ is not draped on Mary’s lap and knees but undulates across the bodies of his earthbound beloveds. —

Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026 The Tree House Suites’ undulating design resembles the seedpod of the purple millettia, a common Southeast Asian flowering plant. —

Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 15 Apr. 2026 Toyo Ito’s 2006 Meiso no Mori Funeral Hall in Gifu, Japan, shelters mourners beneath an undulating thin-concrete canopy like a billowing shroud. —

Justin Davidson, Curbed, 14 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for undulate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for undulate

Verb

According to Bodine, public discourse around artificial intelligence often oscillates between unchecked optimism and outright resistance, leaving little room for more measured conversations about responsible implementation.

— William Jones, USA Today, 28 May 2026
Under Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth’s form has often oscillated between streaks of positive and negative results.

— Anantaajith Raghuraman, New York Times, 21 May 2026