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

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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 Just past the vestibule, party guests undulated to a runaway groove on a fifteen-foot-wide dance floor. — Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026 An undulating white ceiling appears to float above bookshelves, reading areas and living trees. — David Nikel, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 The undulating synth lead seems tailored to mimic the tone and timbre of a classical Indian singer, a comparison borne out by the occasional flashes of vocal sample peeking through the mix. — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 18 July 2026 In terms of beauty, Zendaya has swapped out her bixie—for now—and worn her XXL hair in undulating waves and twisted crown-like braids. — Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 15 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for undulate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for undulate

Verb

Best Customizable Lamp The Pavone floor light by Viviana Degrandi is not only dimmable but can oscillate between sultry to bright.

— Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2026
Joyful noise and other, impolite sounds radiated from the sets oscillating between the two sites.

— Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026

Definition of oscillate

Verb

Gas prices in Florida continue to fluctuate near the $4 mark, while diesel in the state has returned to figures posted during the early stages of the ongoing conflict with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz.

— News Service Of Florida, Sun Sentinel, 8 Sep. 2026
Underground temperatures also fluctuate far less than those at the surface, potentially reducing the energy required to maintain suitable growing conditions.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of fluctuate

Verb

Beyoncé, who wore a cozy hoodie for the outing, also blew kisses to the crowd and waved to fans as Jay-Z sang to her.

— Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 5 Sep. 2026
Fans are also shown waving the flag of the Philippines, an overhead shot of Eala’s black Chanel handbag and the WTA player posing in distressed jeans and a tangerine-colored open-back top.

— Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of wave

Verb

The first model emerged onto a sinuous runway in a nubuck coat paired with chiffon pants that fluttered in the breeze, revealing knee-high calfskin boots.

— Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
Planted in a mound of debris, fluttering in the unforgiving wind, was the red-and-gold Chinese flag.

— Simone McCarthy, CNN Money, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of flutter

Verb

Saturated in velvety blues, reds, and blacks, Zumthor’s surfaces all but vibrate; the subtle variations in the application of the paint and the alchemy of the pigment on the concrete substrate bring the walls maximally to life.

— Katy Barkan, Artforum, 1 Sep. 2026
All of this has to work while the brush head vibrates at 58,000 revs per minute.

— Tianwei Zhang, Footwear News, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of vibrate

Verb

As Gansey greeted them, shaking hands, taking photos and smiling endlessly, one stepped forward with a question that encapsulated everything.

— Tony Jones, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
More than a year of demonstrations sometimes drawing hundreds of thousands of people shook Vucic more than ever during his 14 years in power.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of shake

Verb

The firefighters made camp at two in the morning, reclining on the pillowy grass, and ate dinner around a flickering campfire.

— M. R. O’Connor, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
Layered background sighs, a resonant lead vocal, autumnal acoustic guitar flickers, synths both eerie and trippy—James has all his tricks on tap.

— Ryan Leas, Pitchfork, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of flicker

Verb

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
These empires all emerged in the aftermath of the great Mongol conquests that spread over the Eurasian steppe in the thirteenth century and convulsed politics far and wide.

— Foreign Affairs, Foreign Affairs, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of convulse

Browse Nearby Words

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“Undulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undulate. Accessed 11 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of undulate

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