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
Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
The artist created these tabletop works by slicing disks of walnut into identically sized strips and reassembling the pieces to form undulating fans.
—Katherine Rochester, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2026
The product is made with silk jacquard, and with smooth cotton sateen on the reverse side; the jacquard is woven in a pattern reminiscent of the ocean’s undulating waves.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
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
Verb
Two distinct styles collide on a pair of intergenerational live recordings pitting the Buchla pioneer’s undulating sequences against the lo-fi techno producer’s scuffed textures.
—Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
The artist created these tabletop works by slicing disks of walnut into identically sized strips and reassembling the pieces to form undulating fans.
—Katherine Rochester, Artforum, 1 Apr. 2026
The product is made with silk jacquard, and with smooth cotton sateen on the reverse side; the jacquard is woven in a pattern reminiscent of the ocean’s undulating waves.
—Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 31 Mar. 2026
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
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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And relying on personal vehicles means budgeting for expenses such as gas (often fluctuating), insurance, and general maintenance.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
3 Apr. 2026
-
And while some rentals in the area do offer on-site care at fluctuating market rates, as a Continuing Care Retirement Community(CCRC), the cost of care at Vi at Aventura is built into residents’ monthly fees, providing greater financial predictability and long-term value.—
Vi at Aventura,
Miami Herald,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Service, on my visits, was a bit spacey, but it’s been tightening up; the tone of the place seems to be in progress, too, oscillating between that of a neighborhood joint, an amorous date-night nook, and a sceney hot spot.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
5 Apr. 2026
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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
Adjective
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The study published in the journal Construction and Building Materials also revealed that the triangular and wavy forms significantly enhanced the beam's ability to handle post-cracking stress.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 Apr. 2026
-
On the other hand, tape-ins are often well suited for straight to wavy hair types, and keratin bonds are great for curly or straight hair, but both are best applied by a professional.—
Hunter Lacey,
Allure,
9 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
There are two side pockets, a wide-mouth zippered top, and a trolley sleeve to slide it over the handle of your rolling suitcase for an even easier journey to your gate.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
3 Apr. 2026
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The league is expected to announce new teams on a rolling basis, versus all at once.—
Kurt Badenhausen,
Sportico.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The pillar artwork features a waving Pope Leo XIV, along with a picture from the TV broadcast of the future pope sitting with good friend Ed Schmit and his grandson, Eddie.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
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Nearly all get delivered by McKellen’s Julian, waving a champagne coupe while monologuing about humidifiers, cancel culture and a doctor who smells like radishes.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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As an over-the-counter retinoid, retinol helps accelerate skin cell turnover, which can visibly improve uneven texture, fine lines, and discoloration over time.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
8 Apr. 2026
-
But the improvements were short-lived as rates rose significantly in March, driven by a series of uneven economic reports and a spike in geopolitical tensions and overseas conflicts.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
8 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undulating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undulating. Accessed 12 Apr. 2026.
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