as in undulant
rising and falling in a wavelike pattern
The undulating terrain was difficult to traverse on foot.
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as in fluctuating
formal
to move or be shaped like waves
undulating hills an undulating surface
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of undulating
Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2025
Unfortunately, the Smokies are also synonymous with traffic and crowds, as more than 12 million people visit these undulating peaks on the Tennessee-North Carolina border annually.
—AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025
Saft’s bed, with a gently undulating headboard, was in one corner, his daughter’s tucked into a nook behind the kitchen.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
The minimally landscaped areas immediately around the house quickly give way to the arid landscape, the spiny shrubs and Joshua trees interspersed with several sculptures set against the undulating shadow lines of the distant mountains.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
Klum selected the pumps to accompany a black dress with an undulating design.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025
Even aging bananas will look elegant in this undulating fruit bowl.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2025
Throughout the song’s undulating, fluid melodies, Kali and Mariah trade verses about the importance of loyalty in love, all while maintaining their own otherworldly vocals in the process.
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2025
October 2022 found areas of the Anza-Borrego Desert painted with thick bunches of yellow goldeneye flowers, carpets of yellow chinchweed and clusters of purple sand verbena sweeping over undulating sand dunes along Highway S-22 heading toward Salton Sea.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
Her hair, by Dimitris Giannetos, was swept over her shoulder in thick, undulating dark waves.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 2 Nov. 2025
Unfortunately, the Smokies are also synonymous with traffic and crowds, as more than 12 million people visit these undulating peaks on the Tennessee-North Carolina border annually.
—AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025
Saft’s bed, with a gently undulating headboard, was in one corner, his daughter’s tucked into a nook behind the kitchen.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
The minimally landscaped areas immediately around the house quickly give way to the arid landscape, the spiny shrubs and Joshua trees interspersed with several sculptures set against the undulating shadow lines of the distant mountains.
—Mark David, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2025
Klum selected the pumps to accompany a black dress with an undulating design.
—Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2025
Even aging bananas will look elegant in this undulating fruit bowl.
—Julia Harrison, Architectural Digest, 7 Oct. 2025
Throughout the song’s undulating, fluid melodies, Kali and Mariah trade verses about the importance of loyalty in love, all while maintaining their own otherworldly vocals in the process.
—Stephen Daw, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2025
October 2022 found areas of the Anza-Borrego Desert painted with thick bunches of yellow goldeneye flowers, carpets of yellow chinchweed and clusters of purple sand verbena sweeping over undulating sand dunes along Highway S-22 heading toward Salton Sea.
—Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undulating
Adjective
-
As the undulant hills beyond the valley turned blue in front of me, a cat sauntered onto the veranda and wound its tail around my ankles.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
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Across its emerald landscape there is an undulant sea of simple white religious symbols that mark the final resting place of those who served their country with honor and gallantry and an impressive blend of quiet patriotism.—
Thomas Farragher,
BostonGlobe.com,
26 May 2023
Verb
-
And while some rentals in the area offer on-site care at fluctuating market rates, as a Continuing Care Retirement Community, The Vi provides compassionate care at a more predictable cost, since those rates are built into a resident’s monthly fees.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
31 Oct. 2025
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In principle, besides fluctuating stars transients can be associated with other things, too, such as extreme space weather events impinging on the upper atmosphere, sunlight glinting off reflective objects near Earth, as well as flaws in the telescope or the imaging process.—
Jonathan O'Callaghan,
Scientific American,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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This heater has two heat settings and an oscillating base so heat is evenly distributed throughout your space.—
Maggie Horton,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
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Merokeety Fall Oversized Batwing Lounge Set Fall temperatures are notoriously unpredictable, oscillating between hot and cold, so a sweatshirt-and-shorts duo like this set from Merokeety will prepare for both climates.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
6 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The funky facial expressions as Shannon would go on and on about something wavy gravy and hippy drippy.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
30 Oct. 2025
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Amongst the crowd was Euphoria actress Maude Apatow, who starred in the opening promotional segment alongside Cynthia Erivo and wore her hair in an effortless wavy bob for the occasion.—
Ranyechi Udemezue,
Vogue,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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No one enjoys finding moths fluttering around the flour or tiny caterpillars crawling in the cereal.—
Lauren Wicks,
Southern Living,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The Bolas spider creates a silk lasso to catch fluttering moths.—
Kate Siber,
Outside,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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If that feature catches on, companies will just be makers of rolling shells for tech companies.—
Patrick George,
The Atlantic,
3 Nov. 2025
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Produced by Hoogendyk — a passionate advocate for emerging comics — and booked via open and rolling submissions, the program expanded in early 2025, adding one yearly showcase in Los Angeles in the spring, in addition to the Brooklyn show in the fall.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The epicenter of Los Angeles effectively shut down for several hours as the parade wove through the sea of fans bleeding Dodger blue with the Boys in Blue riding atop double-decker buses with friends and family, while waving to fans and holding the Commissioner’s Trophy.—
Kevin Dotson,
CNN Money,
4 Nov. 2025
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Hawks might whip up enthusiasm by waving a bloody shirt or recalling a stab in the back.—
Elizabeth D. Samet,
Foreign Affairs,
29 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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The early days of the season have been decidedly uneven.—
Allan Mitchell,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
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Special features include their grippy Vibram outsoles, cushiony FloatPro Foam pods, and extra underfoot protection against rocks and uneven terrain.—
Olivia Young,
Travel + Leisure,
1 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Undulating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undulating. Accessed 8 Nov. 2025.
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