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undulating 1 of 2

adjective

as in undulant
rising and falling in a wavelike pattern The undulating terrain was difficult to traverse on foot.

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undulating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of undulate
as in fluctuating
formal to move or be shaped like waves undulating hills an undulating surface

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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 undulating
Verb
The pre-show screen displayed a graphic of a peaceful, undulating pink wave. — Naaman Zhou, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2026 Real manta rays propel themselves by rhythmically flapping and undulating their enormous pectoral fins. — New Atlas, 8 Sep. 2026 The pinkish squid glided two miles beneath the surface, its long, pale legs trailing from undulating fins, stunning scientists who know remarkably little about its diet, behavior or reproduction. — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026 This pretty hamlet sits right on the Connecticut river in the foothills of the Green Mountains, so expect undulating blankets of colorful foliage in every direction. — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026 An avant-garde pick, the Olivera floor lamp from Lulu and Georgia boasts an undulating wicker frame. — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2026 Vietnam Nestled in Vietnam’s northern mountains, Sapa dazzles with emerald rice paddies dotted across undulating green hills. — Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 21 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undulating
  1. undulant
  2. fluctuating
  3. wavy
  4. oscillating
  5. rolling
  6. fluttering
  7. uneven
  8. waving
Adjective
  • But in his own drawing, De Kooning let rip with liner brushes, swishing them about all over the paper, achieving undulant lines that contract and expand like living creatures.
    — Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2026
  • 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
Definition of undulant
Verb
  • Farmers are struggling under the pressure of higher energy costs, tariffs and fluctuating crop prices.
    — Jarrell Dillard, Washington Post, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Transit technology must be built to accommodate these day-to-day scenarios while handling fluctuating demand, changing government policies and emerging industry trends.
    — Miroslav Katsarov, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of fluctuating
Adjective
  • Like the wavy structures of a coral reef, layered deposits in the Arabia Terra region of Mars showcase the planet's strange beauty and even stranger past.
    — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Mailaender used different types of mirrors, geometric wall patterns, colored cork and linoleum, wavy steel and deliberately 1980s-style locker-room doors.
    — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of wavy
Verb
  • How to Change the Grout in Your Shower Start your refresh by removing the old grout with grout removal tools like a grout saw or an oscillating tool equipped with a grout removal blade.
    — Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 20 Sep. 2026
  • After the oscillating light and dark, after the speeding forward, after the commuting or praying or both, this moment seems to hold an extra teaching.
    — Ben Corn, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of oscillating
Adjective
  • The Wallaroos scored three tries in eight minutes; the first from a rolling maul that cost Scotland's Evie Gallagher a yellow card.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Also, its rolling olive oil cart, replete with its own menu describing the oils’ characteristics and origins, allows passengers to sample many.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of rolling
Verb
  • The dress included a long train, which trailed the actress on the arrival carpet, and was further augmented by a shoulder ornament of fabric that transitioned from fluttering waves to delicate tassels.
    — Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026
  • Tribute upon floral tribute—their petals, leaves, and memorial cards fluttering in the gentle breeze.
    — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of fluttering
Adjective
  • The donor area has limits, and removing too many grafts may leave it looking uneven or depleted.
    — Ascend Agency, New York Daily News, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Rapid magnetic changes, probe movement, or uneven fields can cause the system to lose this lock.
    — Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of uneven
Verb
  • In Caracas, hundreds of activists in sky blue shirts — the color of Machado’s Vente Venezuela party — rode motorcycles and drove through the capital’s main avenues, honking their horns and waving Venezuelan flags.
    — Clyburn Saint John, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
  • In Paris, around 800,000 lined the Champs-Élysées avenue, some waving Vatican or French flags while others climbed trees or stood on each other’s shoulders to get a glimpse of the popemobile.
    — Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of waving

Browse Nearby Words

undulates
undulating
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Cite this Entry

“Undulating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undulating. Accessed 2 Oct. 2026.

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