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
Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
Following all of that comes a massage featuring the undulating touch of not one but two therapists.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026
The design with the same name as the collection itself, Ritual, is a silk-cotton blend with gentle, undulating lines and subtle shifts in tone intended to echo intimate moments of connection shared over tea.
—Allison Hatfield, Dallas Morning News, 17 Mar. 2026
The undulating glass and steel structure of The National Art Center merits a visit on its own.
—Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2026
Think of it like the undulating tide on a beach.
—Carla Lalli Music, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Mar. 2026
Create an even or slightly undulating mowing surface by filling holes and low spots in the turf.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
The driver turns on the radio, sending ambient waves of sound undulating throughout the car.
—Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
In due time the architect came up with an undulating single-story blob that people hated.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 6 Mar. 2026
Verb
Expect boulders wedged between undulating 200-foot-high red sandstone walls, loose sand, and tricky obstacles to maneuver.
—Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
Following all of that comes a massage featuring the undulating touch of not one but two therapists.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 17 Mar. 2026
The design with the same name as the collection itself, Ritual, is a silk-cotton blend with gentle, undulating lines and subtle shifts in tone intended to echo intimate moments of connection shared over tea.
—Allison Hatfield, Dallas Morning News, 17 Mar. 2026
The undulating glass and steel structure of The National Art Center merits a visit on its own.
—Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2026
Think of it like the undulating tide on a beach.
—Carla Lalli Music, Bon Appetit Magazine, 10 Mar. 2026
Create an even or slightly undulating mowing surface by filling holes and low spots in the turf.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
The driver turns on the radio, sending ambient waves of sound undulating throughout the car.
—Literary Hub, 9 Mar. 2026
In due time the architect came up with an undulating single-story blob that people hated.
—Nate Freeman, Vanity Fair, 6 Mar. 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
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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
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Data shows battery, homicide, arson and auto thefts fluctuating most frequently.—
Kendrick Calfee,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Chances of rain and thunderstorms increase Tuesday night and last through Saturday, fluctuating between 20 to 60%.—
Elissa Jorgensen,
Dallas Morning News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Pedretti, meanwhile, commits fully to her bimbo persona, oscillating between titillating absurdism and unexpected discomfort.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Cyrus herself has worn both hair colors many, many times in the past, oscillating from a bleach-blonde platinum crop in her Bangerz days to a Debbie Harry-esque halo to warm brunette.—
Kara Nesvig,
Allure,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Some researchers have theorized that climate change has made the jet stream more wavy.—
Evan Bush,
NBC news,
28 Mar. 2026
-
The poster child for this world is a waifish, wavy-haired 20-year-old who goes by the name Clavicular.—
Spencer Kornhaber,
The Atlantic,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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October marks the start of butterfly season, with vibrant swarms fluttering well into the green season.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 Mar. 2026
-
The sudden movement sends the birds fluttering away from you, to watch and wait.—
Addie Citchens,
New Yorker,
8 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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While this game was closer than January 19 when UConn won by 38 points in the most-lopsided game in the 57-game series (UConn leads 41-16), the Irish couldn't overcome the rolling Huskies.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Mar. 2026
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The crops good enough to incorporate into its Churchills, primeros, and other formats are aged for as long as a presidential term before the rolling process even begins.—
Justin Fenner,
Robb Report,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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After a steal and dunk by Reed put UConn back up by six, Huskies coach Dan Hurley began waving his arms wildly at the fans behind his bench, exhorting them to be louder.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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It was speckled with fans in Brazilian yellow kits, with just a few French flags waving to celebrate Mbappé's goal.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
26 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Accessibility Due to Lupaia’s location on a steep hilltop with gravel pathways and naturally uneven grounds at various levels, this resort is not wheelchair accessible.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
3 Apr. 2026
-
The truth is that the track record for Olympic host cities is pretty uneven.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
2 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undulating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undulating. Accessed 3 Apr. 2026.
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