undulates

verb

present tense third-person singular of undulate
as in oscillates
formal to move or be shaped like waves undulating hills an undulating surface

Related Words

Relevance

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 undulates 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 Nearby, a robot undulates through water like a fish. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 27 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undulates
  1. oscillates
  2. fluctuates
  3. waves
  4. vibrates
  5. flutters
  6. flickers
  7. convulses
  8. shakes
Verb
  • 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
Definition of 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
  • Picture a doorman who checks your ID with great care, then waves you into any apartment in the building.
    — Julian Durand, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The Spa At the beach-level spa, the windows were left wide open during my 60-minute Salt Air Reset massage, making all-natural birdsong and waves the soundtrack of my treatment.
    — Katie Nanton, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2026
Definition of waves
Verb
  • Every time my phone vibrates with a new text from him and my screen lights up with his name, a shot of serotonin goes straight to my heart.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026
  • This painstakingly restored 4K version looks and sounds gorgeous; cinematographer Dante Spinotti’s work glows with saturated vibrancy, and Michel Rubini and the Reds’ score vibrates on a spooky synth frequency.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 29 July 2026
Definition of vibrates
Verb
  • The flag of Iran flutters in the wind outside of the IAEA headquarters.
    — Antonio Pequeño IV, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
  • Iran’s flag before the 1979 revolution — green, white and red with a lion and a rising sun — flutters from many overhangs.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Definition of flutters
Verb
  • Layered background sighs, a resonant lead vocal, autumnal acoustic guitar flickers, synths both eerie and trippy—James has all his tricks on tap.
    — Ryan Leas, Pitchfork, 28 Aug. 2026
  • But Triage does have a moment in which an ember of the old cruel optimism flickers.
    — Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of flickers
Verb
  • Now, as Venezuela’s political order convulses after the capture of strongman Nicolás Maduro and Washington ramps up pressure on Havana, that scaffolding is starting to buckle under pressure.
    — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 24 Feb. 2026
  • As the United States convulses with violent raids from emboldened ICE agents, citizens across the country have fought back with block-by-block mutual aid.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Definition of convulses
Verb
  • While operating, Joseph shakes off the space madness by recalling La’an’s advice.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026
  • First, the bat boy shakes his head as Guccione explains why the balk was overturned.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of shakes

Browse Nearby Words

undulated
undulates
undulating
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Undulates.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undulates. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All