oscillations

noun

plural of oscillation
1
as in fluctuations
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

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2
as in vibrations
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 oscillations That haziness gets more distorted on the title track, which hits its apex with siren-like oscillations. — Cassidy Sollazzo, Pitchfork, 14 Oct. 2026 However, the experiments demonstrated coordinated oscillations, not a robot capable of performing multiple practical tasks. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026 Scientists defined 1 second as exactly 9,192,631,770 of these oscillations. — Vahe Peroomian, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 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 On 28 April 2025, a series of power oscillations, voltage gaps, and reactive power control failures set off a cascade of disconnections across the Iberian Peninsula. — IEEE Spectrum, 29 Aug. 2026 Hoell and his colleagues analyzed nearly four decades of El Niño and La Niña oscillations and wildfire burn areas to understand how often the fire season mirrors the climate cycle. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026 Rapid oscillations trigger muscle contractions that can indirectly support lymph movement. — Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026 When two black holes collide, their song ripples through the very fabric of existence, creating a thundering chorus of oscillations in spacetime that echo across the universe like the fading gong of a bell. — Sam MacDonald, Scientific American, 26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oscillations
  1. fluctuations
  2. vibrations
  3. changes
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 fluctuations
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
  • HapWare’s Aleye is a haptic wristband that relays nonverbal cues—a smile, a wave—in near-real time through a series of vibrations.
    — Derek Rose, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of vibrations
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
  • After the rocky start, Saturday night seemed to be going smoother, with a new ticket system and other changes.
    — Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of changes

Browse Nearby Words

oscillation
oscillations
osculate
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Cite this Entry

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

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