oscillation

noun

ˌä-sə-ˈlā-shən How to pronounce oscillation (audio)
Definition of oscillationnext
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

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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

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 oscillation The leaders of the two experiments were awarded a Nobel Prize for the discovery of neutrino oscillations in 2015. — Doug Cowen, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026 This was because the phase of an oscillation encodes information about how events are structured in time relative to each other. — Elise Cutts, Quanta Magazine, 23 Sep. 2026 And the disturbing oscillations are a journey from uncertainty to insight, a train ride from introspection to moral resolution. — Ben Corn, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Sep. 2026 During running workouts, the Ultra 4 also captures form metrics such as cadence, ground contact time, and vertical oscillation. — Andrew Gebhart, PC Magazine, 17 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for oscillation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oscillation
  1. fluctuation
  2. vibration
  3. change
  4. twitching
  5. shaking
  6. trembling
Noun
  • Atmospheric fluctuations on shorter weekly or daily scales, such as sudden stratospheric warming events, polar vortex disruptions, or shifts in the Arctic Oscillation, can temporarily override the overarching El Niño pattern.
    — Ahmad Bajjey, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Schimpf said the setup allows Anduril to give liquidity to employees without the distraction of stock price fluctuations.
    — Samantha Subin, CNBC, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of fluctuation
Noun
  • These devices are important components of optical atomic clocks, which use the vibrations of atoms at optical frequencies to measure time.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 17 Oct. 2026
  • Bushings are components that help reduce vibration, according to WSB.
    — Isa Mudannayake, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of vibration
Noun
  • The electronic shelf labels make frequent changes easier but don't necessarily lead to higher prices during periods of strong demand.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Among the recommendations is a change that would change the village’s single-family residential districts to neighborhood residential districts, potentially opening them up to multi-unit housing.
    — Cam'ron Hardy, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of change
Noun
  • Casting near banks and using a twitching technique can increase success during the hatch.
    — Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2026
  • During this phase, octopuses display visible twitching along with rapid changes in skin color and texture, per NPR.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Definition of twitching
Noun
  • Despite the widespread shaking, the most extensive structural damage was reported in communities closer to the epicenter.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 10 Oct. 2026
  • With its silly oversized thumbs and frantic shaking needed to escape pins, this mini-game is one example of how a game like Nintendo Switch Sports Resort could make some older gamers feel self-conscious.
    — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of shaking
Noun
  • Across campus, students raised trembling voices, burst into applause, and brushed away tears.
    — Jeannine Chiang, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Betelgeuse and the Pleiades hung—one billowing, one trembling—out of sight somewhere past the window frame.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of trembling

Browse Nearby Words

oscillating
oscillation
oscillations
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Oscillation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oscillation. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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