UNDULATING Synonyms: 98 Similar and Opposite Words

undulating 1 of 2

adjective

as in undulant

rising and falling in a wavelike pattern The undulating terrain was difficult to traverse on foot.

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Dissimilar Words

undulating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of undulate

as in fluctuating

formal to move or be shaped like waves undulating hills an undulating surface

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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 undulating

Verb

He gets pummeled by waves and rip currents while negotiating the famously difficult shore dive but is soon swimming among brightly colored marine life and undulating kelp forests that filter sunlight from the surface. — David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026 Moments later, Jay is trapped inside, surrounded by gooey protrusions of undulating flesh. — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026 Sleek and extravagant, Rosewood Abu Dhabi provides a dramatic welcome, with architecture that calls to mind an undulating desert. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 Suburbs stretch their undulating freeways into the grid, sucking out nutrients (and cutting through neighborhoods). — Daniel Immerwahr, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2026 Real manta rays propel themselves by rhythmically flapping and undulating their enormous pectoral fins. — New Atlas, 8 Sep. 2026 The pinkish squid glided two miles beneath the surface, its long, pale legs trailing from undulating fins, stunning scientists who know remarkably little about its diet, behavior or reproduction. — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026 An avant-garde pick, the Olivera floor lamp from Lulu and Georgia boasts an undulating wicker frame. — Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 2 Sep. 2026 Vietnam Nestled in Vietnam’s northern mountains, Sapa dazzles with emerald rice paddies dotted across undulating green hills. — Stephanie Vermillion, Travel + Leisure, 21 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for undulating

Adjective

But in his own drawing, De Kooning let rip with liner brushes, swishing them about all over the paper, achieving undulant lines that contract and expand like living creatures.

— Sebastian Smee, The Atlantic, 16 Sep. 2026
Our drills included hours of seamlessly merging poetry with three chords, providing me with an undulant field to riff on.

— Patti Smith, New Yorker, 1 Nov. 2025

Definition of undulant

Verb

Such flexibility is compatible with the fluctuating nature of entrepreneurship.

— Bernardo Saraiva, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026
Gray noise, per The New York Times, may sound like wind blowing or steady rainfall and works for apartment dwellers sensitive to sharp or fluctuating noises.

— Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of fluctuating

Adjective

For example, if the edge of a leaf grows faster than its center, this can lead to a curled or wavy shape—as with Lollo lettuce.

— Manon Bischoff, Scientific American, 13 Oct. 2026
In the guest bathroom, wavy blue-and-white tiles are contrasted with doodle-like sea-creature wallpaper, a terrazzo countertop, and a clear shower curtain patterned with a yellow grid.

— Tori Latham, Robb Report, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of wavy

Adjective

As Europe panted through rolling heatwaves this summer, I became drawn in by The Perfect Prescription anew.

— Gabriel Szatan, Pitchfork, 18 Oct. 2026
The entertaining spaces, including the adjoining living and dining rooms, are framed by large windows that look out on the rolling hills.

— Tori Latham, Robb Report, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of rolling

Adjective

Rising case rates in women under 50, new federal rules on breast density notification and the uneven rollout of 3D mammography are reshaping when and how women get screened.

— Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
Grass, uneven ground, tiny puddles, and random objects can become major obstacles when the machine is barely taller than them.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of uneven

Verb

The Lithuanian Parliament moved to allow nuclear weapons on its soil, with a final vote to take place in January, as the Kremlin is already waving red flags over the move.

— Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 12 Oct. 2026
Defensive lineman Shelby Harris started waving both arms to indicate the game should be over.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Oct. 2026

Definition of waving

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

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Synonyms of undulating

adjective

verb

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