Thesaurus results for OSCILLATES

oscillates

verb

present tense third-person singular of oscillate

as in fluctuates

to move back and forth in a rhythmic manner When a guitar string is plucked, it oscillates to produce sound waves in the air.

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as in alternates

to continuously change from one belief, feeling, or condition to an opposite one The model's hair color oscillates between bleach blond and jet black.

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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 oscillates Though small, the tool has 6 volts of power that oscillates each attachment up to 60 times per second—much faster than any traditional scrubbing could do. — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 20 Aug. 2026 Helmholtz resonance occurs when air trapped in a cavity oscillates back and forth in response to airflow. — Sara Hashemi, Popular Science, 19 Aug. 2026 This is a market that oscillates between wanting everything artificial intelligence infrastructure and wanting unrelated ideas, like drugmakers, health insurers and banks. — Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 23 July 2026 The fan delivers powerful whole-room airflow that reaches up to 23 feet and oscillates 90 degrees to distribute cool air more evenly throughout the space. — Nicol Natale, PEOPLE, 23 June 2026 According to Bodine, public discourse around artificial intelligence often oscillates between unchecked optimism and outright resistance, leaving little room for more measured conversations about responsible implementation. — William Jones, USA Today, 28 May 2026 Like the albums themselves, the experience constantly oscillates between dread and beauty, alienation and intimacy. — Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 12 May 2026 The fan also oscillates at a 70-degree angle and can cover a large portion of the room, distributing cool air throughout. — George Yang, PC Magazine, 6 Apr. 2026 According to SnowBrains, Lake Tahoe is now sitting well above its typical winter level, a development water managers view as encouraging in a region that frequently oscillates between drought and downpours. — Amanda Greenwood, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Mar. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for oscillates

Verb

Beating the models at their own noise ENSO fluctuates on its own; quiet decades are followed by wild ones, with no external push required.

— Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026
The number of protesters fluctuates, with certain days attracting larger crowds.

— David Kirichenko, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of fluctuates

Verb

The drink-swap strategy, which alternates alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, is being fueled by declining alcohol consumption in younger generations.

— Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 24 Aug. 2026
To achieve this, the locus coeruleus continuously alternates between tonic activity—governing baseline arousal and alertness—and brief phasic bursts that focus attention on critical events.

— Julian Hayes II, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of alternates

Verb

The trail undulates a bit over rocky rises and occasionally detours into the woods, but experienced hikers shouldn't have any problems.

— Robert Annis, Midwest Living, 7 June 2026
Miller also strategically employs the Pietà in his Confederate Women’s Monument, turning to Michelangelo’s later Depositional group from the Pietà Bandini, in which the dead Christ is not draped on Mary’s lap and knees but undulates across the bodies of his earthbound beloveds.

— Horace D. Ballard, Artforum, 22 Apr. 2026

Definition of undulates

Verb

But forcing heavy steel trains onto a floating highway that rolls, sways, and shifts with the tides was widely considered an invitation to disaster.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026
One combat sequence at the end is genuinely excellent because the film puts actual creative effort into staging a knife-versus-ax duel on a gangplank that sways back and forth over the water.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of sways

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oscillates

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“Oscillates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oscillates. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of oscillates

verb

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