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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Recent Examples of undulating
Thomas Schlachter, CNN Money, 15 May 2026
The undulating landscape lends itself to scenic horseback riding with outfits like Na’alapa Stables, which carries on the tradition of the paniolo cowboys who have herded cattle in the grassy highlands since the late 1800s.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
SeaWorld’s sister park in Orlando, Florida, already hosts a nighttime drone show that features undulating manta rays, paddling sea turtles and hovering octopuses.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
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
To the left is a relaxed deck for post-dip chilling; to the right is the beautifully restrained restaurant, partly enclosed in a glasshouse with an undulating canopy roof.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 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
In place of drums is a constant floor of undulating synth bass, which sometimes twists itself into the treble range but mostly functions as the x-axis to the percussion’s y in the vast lattice structure that supports this music.
—Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
With favorites falling to the wayside all over the undulating greens at Aronimink Golf Club, the ever-unflappable Scheffler sits atop the leaderboard after the opening day’s golf in Philadelphia.
—Thomas Schlachter, CNN Money, 15 May 2026
The undulating landscape lends itself to scenic horseback riding with outfits like Na’alapa Stables, which carries on the tradition of the paniolo cowboys who have herded cattle in the grassy highlands since the late 1800s.
—Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 8 May 2026
SeaWorld’s sister park in Orlando, Florida, already hosts a nighttime drone show that features undulating manta rays, paddling sea turtles and hovering octopuses.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
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
To the left is a relaxed deck for post-dip chilling; to the right is the beautifully restrained restaurant, partly enclosed in a glasshouse with an undulating canopy roof.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 24 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
In place of drums is a constant floor of undulating synth bass, which sometimes twists itself into the treble range but mostly functions as the x-axis to the percussion’s y in the vast lattice structure that supports this music.
—Daniel Bromfield, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undulating
Adjective
-
Our drills included hours of seamlessly merging poetry with three chords, providing me with an undulant field to riff on.—
Patti Smith,
New Yorker,
1 Nov. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
Speaking to the press before departing the White House for a visit to China, the president defended the fluctuating cost of the ballroom project.—
Naomi Lim,
The Washington Examiner,
12 May 2026
-
Our fluctuating temperatures, our comfort, the securing of a place in which to shelter or the lack of one, the tendency to seek out warmth.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
The device is based on oscillating water column technology, which transforms wave motion into electricity by means of a turbine.—
Prabhat Ranjan Mishra,
Interesting Engineering,
16 May 2026
-
The sphere at the top of the node bobs in the water, with the attached tube oscillating water within it, spinning turbines inside the structure that generate electricity.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Hilarious hormonal shifts that made my curly hair go wavy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
12 May 2026
-
Thanks to her thick hair and naturally wavy texture, Rosalía’s collarbone-length chop looks particularly full-bodied and voluminous.—
Mykenna Maniece,
Vogue,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Putting up a hummingbird feeder in your garden or on your balcony or porch is a way to entice these fast-fluttering birds to visit.—
Lauren David,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 May 2026
-
Elke and Alysia started seeing the big bugs fluttering around in late April, and as their numbers grew through early May, the native rainbows started keying in on them more and more.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Like each previous year, a rolling promotional video, showcasing the achievements of China’s film industry, played on the large screen at the pavilion and captivated many attendees.—
Partner Content,
Variety,
17 May 2026
-
With waterfalls and lush rolling hills, its landscape is at once jagged and stunning, enough to rival that of the more-popular Bora Bora.—
Skyli Alvarez,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 May 2026
Verb
-
During the game, the camera highlighted the couple, and their daughters quickly took the opportunity to make their presence known by waving towards the big screen, per E!—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
15 May 2026
-
Instead, it is filled with a froth of virtual particles becoming real in pairs, waving to us, annihilating each other, and sinking back into the soup of virtual particles.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
These Italian suede sneakers feature a durable gum sole that’s perfect for a long day of walking without tripping over cobblestones or uneven pavement.—
Melony Forcier,
Travel + Leisure,
14 May 2026
-
Elsewhere, shopping was uneven.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undulating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undulating. Accessed 18 May. 2026.
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