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

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 Passengers are treated to rare desert vistas that aren’t visible from surrounding interstates as the train glides by vast ranches, undulating mountains, and scenic pueblos. —

Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 June 2026 The woman's phone is encased in an undulating rubbery glitter sculpture with tiny portraits of K-pop idols suspended inside. —

Carly Tagen-Dye, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026 The simple walking pattern adopted by fish, which the Cambridge researchers call an ‘undulating tripod gait’, can appear to be quite clumsy and involves too much flopping. —

Abhishek Bhardwaj, Interesting Engineering, 2 June 2026 Suddenly, the undulating fields are sparkling in the moist air, redolent with the incongruous scents of peat and political oppression. —

Literary Hub, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for undulate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for undulate

Verb

The Feeneys oscillated between C and B over the years, a plus or minus coming depending on how much time had passed since the founding.

— Christopher Buchanan, Los Angeles Times, 26 June 2026
This wet-dry vacuum hosts up to 60 minutes of run time, including a hard-floor brush and a carpet brush for oscillating between surfaces, and a self-cleaning brush roll.

— Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 25 June 2026

Definition of oscillate

Verb

This event created a lot of attention among radio astronomers, who, over the years, found many other bright, rapidly fluctuating sources.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 26 June 2026
Surcharges–a cost added by some airlines into tickets to offset the fluctuating cost of jet fuel–have also impacted American consumers.

— Tiago Ventura, Time, 26 June 2026

Definition of fluctuate

Verb

As recently as May, Tesla’s X account posted an ad showing drivers with their hands off the wheel, goofing off while waving their fingers in the air or sipping a hot coffee from a ceramic mug with two hands.

— Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 22 June 2026
Argentina fans celebrated in the concourse of AT&T Stadium with roaring chants, flag waving and dancing.

— Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 June 2026

Definition of wave

Verb

But Curls Ultra aren’t solely interested in resurrecting the mysticism of the past or indulging in the parties of the present, the occasional fluttering flute solo or boisterous sax line notwithstanding.

— Reed Jackson, SPIN, 26 June 2026
Cassettes fluttered, CDs skipped, and choosing a dozen albums for a trip meant leaving dozens more behind.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 23 June 2026

Definition of flutter

Verb

These bees vibrate flowers to release the pollen, improving pollination and fruit set.

— Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 25 June 2026
Ongoing work in string theory — the idea that our universe, at its smallest, most fundamental level, is made up of vibrating strings — suggests a way these concepts might be connected.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 22 June 2026

Definition of vibrate

Verb

Hernández said Rossi Ydrogo had just called his brother in Caracas 20 minutes before the earth started to shake.

— Carmen Sesin, NBC news, 30 June 2026
In Venezuela, rescue teams have been racing against the clock to pull survivors from the rubble after two powerful earthquakes shook the northern state of La Guaira last Wednesday.

— ABC News, ABC News, 29 June 2026

Definition of shake

Verb

Now, 11 years after the first Ni Una Menos protest created a collective consciousness about what would come to be known as femicide — the killing of women and girls because of their gender — the nation is convulsing with anger once again.

— Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 3 June 2026
When Pinatubo started convulsing and belching steam in April of that year, scientists from the United States and the Philippines deployed an array of instruments that tracked the volcano’s inner tumult.

— Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 8 May 2026