1
as in fluctuation
the frequent and usually sudden passing from one condition to another
fickle springtime weather in which there seemed to be an unceasing oscillation between unseasonable heat and unseasonable cold
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in vibration
a series of slight movements by a body back and forth or from side to side
the precise oscillations of the quartz crystal that allows a quartz watch to keep such accurate time
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of oscillation
Scientists do not yet know exactly what causes the oscillations.
—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
15 June 2026
The alternative is oscillation, extraction, or irrelevance.
—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
As these frequencies are extremely stable, counting their oscillations provides an exceptionally accurate way to measure time.
—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
Its vertical and horizontal dual oscillation, coupled with an airflow range of up to 50 feet, efficiently circulates air in any direction.
—
ABC News,
16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for oscillation
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
15 June 2026
The alternative is oscillation, extraction, or irrelevance.
—
Steve Denning,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
As these frequencies are extremely stable, counting their oscillations provides an exceptionally accurate way to measure time.
—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
13 June 2026
Its vertical and horizontal dual oscillation, coupled with an airflow range of up to 50 feet, efficiently circulates air in any direction.
—
ABC News,
16 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for oscillation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oscillation
Noun
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There is some fluctuation year to year in the baseball itself, though the league now owns and controls production of the on-field ball.
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Duration measures a bond’s price sensitivity to interest rate fluctuations, and bonds with longer maturity dates tend to have greater duration.
Noun
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Lymphatic drainage has gone from a niche clinical treatment to a category spanning $8 dry brushes and $300 vibration plates, with search interest climbing by triple digits since 2021.
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And stiffer sidewalls and larger tread blocks may transmit more surface vibration and noise into the passenger cabin.
Noun
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But that requires several changes to state law and the Colorado Constitution requires ballot measures address only one subject.
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Consider rearranging a corner of your home, because practical changes can lift your mood and productivity.
Noun
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Casting near banks and using a twitching technique can increase success during the hatch.
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During this phase, octopuses display visible twitching along with rapid changes in skin color and texture, per NPR.
Noun
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Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.
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When the shaking subsided, Perez could not reach her nephew, or his wife, by phone.
Noun
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All the trembling, as Kimbangu touched the sick, alarmed European settlers and reassured the plantation workers who trekked to Nkamba in search of healing.
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At first this change of scale vivifies the butterfly—its brief stillness, the angle of its wings, its trembling—while freezing everything else, including the novel’s action.
Cite this Entry
“Oscillation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oscillation. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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