undulate

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 For example, the undulating landscape of the Chinese Hillside Garden is threaded with meandering paths that wind through a woodland of conifer trees and beside a narrow stream with a small waterfall. Jeanine Barone, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2025 Necks swoop and hips and lower backs undulate in ways that traditional ballet never demands. David Lyman, Cincinnati Enquirer, 4 Sep. 2025 Take advantage of the French American designer’s signature undulating designs in this elegant teapot created especially for The Qi. Elissa Suh, Architectural Digest, 21 Aug. 2025 Pregnancy fashion unfurls with Pleats Pleases’s joyous, undulating designs. Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 19 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for undulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undulate
Verb
  • Trump is in the middle, and his tendency to oscillate between one side or the other doesn't help folks like us who would like some clarity.
    Newsweek Contributors, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
  • Astronomers can measure how the mirrors oscillate to track the orbit of black holes.
    Chad Hanna, The Conversation, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • All share the same problem of fluctuating demand and expensive capacity.
    Matthew Kayser, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
  • In all these scenarios, there’s a risk of financial loss due to fluctuating currency exchange rates.
    Tom Zachystal, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • President William Lai attempted to visit New York City and Dallas in July, but was waved off by the White House without public explanation.
    Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 12 Sep. 2025
  • Once Kirk’s body arrived in Phoenix, it was transported to a local mortuary chapel with a motorcade escort, with mourners lining the way and his wife, Erika Frantzve, waving to supporters.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 12 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Later, Tom pours vodka into a Phillies cup and watches birds flutter by at night while Robbie gets his guns ready and shakes down a trap house.
    Grace Byron, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
  • In the Lower West Side of Chicago, music blared and green, white and red flags fluttered down the streets of the predominantly Latino Pilsen neighborhood on Saturday as crowds gathered for the start of Mexican Independence Day celebrations.
    Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Microneedling is a treatment that uses thin, vibrating needles to puncture your skin.
    Carley Millhone, Health, 9 Sep. 2025
  • As internal organs make sounds, the diaphragm begins to vibrate.
    BestReviews, Mercury News, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Kam Shanks could not shake Ole Miss' punt coverage team and Arkansas will start its first drive of the second half from the 9.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 14 Sep. 2025
  • As Emmy celebrations peppered the town on Saturday night, a starkly differently occasion left attendees shaken, tearful and reminded of the immersive power of cinema.
    Stacey Wilson Hunt, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Sixth Symphony, after flickering episodes that veer from the dreamlike to the nightmarish, ends with a sentimental cadence in E-flat major that feels no more real than what has come before.
    Alex Ross, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
  • In a breeze, the solar lights sway softly, flickering like fireflies.
    Nora Colomer may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom., FOXNews.com, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Testament of Ann Lee, a staggering, surreal musical charting the rise of the 18th-century religious sect the Shakers and their titular leader, as embodied by a wild-haired, convulsing Amanda Seyfried.
    Radhika Seth, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2025
  • As arson and violence convulsed Black neighborhoods, white support for the movement plummeted.
    Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 18 Aug. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Undulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undulate. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.

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