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
Natalia Cano, Billboard, 20 Feb. 2026
The undulating frame hangs above a stone console table, adding depth to the all-white hall.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 13 Feb. 2026
Ten thousand cattails were used to create thin vertical rods, which were affixed to the perimeter of an octagonal skylight, creating a chapel with gently undulating walls.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Hypnotizing with its undulating waves of blue and green mosaic tiles, scenes of Paris are projected onto the walls.
—Kasia Dietz, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
While it was made in the ‘90s, the collection (which showed slip dresses, shirts with undulating ruffles, and jacquard silk jackets constructed to look permanently burst-open) was inspired by the romance between Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
The center is engraved in a pattern of undulating rays emanating from the hour and minute guichets (windows), meant to resemble the edges of clouds pierced through with sunlight.
—Carol Besler, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2026
These pink cat-eye French tips are framed by an undulating gold chrome outline.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 6 Feb. 2026
Set at an elevation of over 1,706 feet, the farm's undulating hills were lined with what seemed like endless rows of verdant tea bushes.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 2026
Verb
Anchored by Tainy’s masterful production, the song’s undulating reggaetón foundation intertwines with futuristic electronic textures, giving it a glimmering pulse.
—Natalia Cano, Billboard, 20 Feb. 2026
The undulating frame hangs above a stone console table, adding depth to the all-white hall.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 13 Feb. 2026
Ten thousand cattails were used to create thin vertical rods, which were affixed to the perimeter of an octagonal skylight, creating a chapel with gently undulating walls.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 9 Feb. 2026
Hypnotizing with its undulating waves of blue and green mosaic tiles, scenes of Paris are projected onto the walls.
—Kasia Dietz, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Feb. 2026
While it was made in the ‘90s, the collection (which showed slip dresses, shirts with undulating ruffles, and jacquard silk jackets constructed to look permanently burst-open) was inspired by the romance between Napoleon Bonaparte and his wife Josephine.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 6 Feb. 2026
The center is engraved in a pattern of undulating rays emanating from the hour and minute guichets (windows), meant to resemble the edges of clouds pierced through with sunlight.
—Carol Besler, Robb Report, 6 Feb. 2026
These pink cat-eye French tips are framed by an undulating gold chrome outline.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 6 Feb. 2026
Set at an elevation of over 1,706 feet, the farm's undulating hills were lined with what seemed like endless rows of verdant tea bushes.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 6 Feb. 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
-
Marlins are projected to win about 75 games this season, that number fluctuating a game or two depending on the model used.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
16 Feb. 2026
-
In the northern and central United States, including Wisconsin, the cool spring season will consist of fluctuating warm and cold spells, the Farmers' Almanac predicts.—
Kelli Arseneau,
jsonline.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
He’s known as a kind of technological monk, oscillating between prankster and doomsayer.—
Zachary Fine,
New Yorker,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Trump has spent the past week oscillating wildly between threats of war and offers of peace.—
Karim Sadjadpour,
The Atlantic,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
On the 002, a trail runner tailored to ground feel, wavy lines from previous iterations carry extra relevance now, and a gum sole unit provides a stark contrast.—
Ian Servantes,
Footwear News,
19 Feb. 2026
-
January Jones's wavy texture is hair envy-inducing.—
Krista Carter,
InStyle,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The hand in motion, the fluttering scarf, the sparkling outfit.—
JD Barker,
Rolling Stone,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Nothing sparks a team quite like killing off a five-on-three, and Canada scored in transition just 14 seconds after Fast was freed, as Kristin O’Neill batted in a fluttering Fast rebound for a 1-0 lead.—
Hailey Salvian,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Before the march began, USW Local President Eric Schultz spelled out for the picketers what’s at stake for BP’s workers, who’ve been working for the last three weeks under a rolling, 24-hour extension of its old contract.—
Michelle L. Quinn,
Chicago Tribune,
15 Feb. 2026
-
This rolling organizer is the perfect solution to use every inch of storage space without having to bend down to the floor.—
Caley Sturgill,
Southern Living,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Andrew and Sarah waving at the camera prior to departing for Balmoral to spend their summer holiday there.—
Lori A Bashian,
FOXNews.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
To his credit, Elon didn’t stop waving red flags.—
Pat Beall,
Sun Sentinel,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This top is business in the front (the draped, halter neckline and uneven hem) and a party in the back (the open back).—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a real-time planning and control framework that significantly improves how two-legged robots recover from sudden disturbances while walking on uneven or moving terrain.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Undulating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undulating. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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