undulate

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb undulate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of undulate are fluctuate, oscillate, sway, swing, vibrate, and waver. While all these words mean "to move from one direction to its opposite," undulate suggests a gentle wavelike motion.

an undulating sea of grass

When is fluctuate a more appropriate choice than undulate?

While in some cases nearly identical to undulate, fluctuate suggests constant irregular changes of level, intensity, or value.

fluctuating interest rates

Where would oscillate be a reasonable alternative to undulate?

The words oscillate and undulate can be used in similar contexts, but oscillate stresses a usually regular alternation of direction.

an oscillating fan

When can sway be used instead of undulate?

While the synonyms sway and undulate are close in meaning, sway implies a slow swinging or teetering movement.

trees swaying in the breeze

When might swing be a better fit than undulate?

Although the words swing and undulate have much in common, swing implies a movement of something attached at one end or one side.

the door suddenly swung open

When would vibrate be a good substitute for undulate?

The meanings of vibrate and undulate largely overlap; however, vibrate suggests the rapid oscillation of an elastic body under stress or impact.

the vibrating strings of a piano

When is it sensible to use waver instead of undulate?

In some situations, the words waver and undulate are roughly equivalent. However, waver stresses irregular motion suggestive of reeling or tottering.

the exhausted runner wavered before collapsing

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 undulate Navigating through the dirt in large, undulating curves is fun enough, but the game really shines when Pepper bursts out through the top layer of dirt in large, arcing jumps. Ars Technica, 22 Dec. 2024 See Demi Moore, whose ultra-long hair was styled into silky, undulating waves that radiated health at the Governors Awards on las tweek. Hannah Coates, Vogue, 24 Nov. 2024 To build the fantasy that became my world, the authorities excavated earth from 870 acres of hills that used to undulate in Bedok and Siglap, in the east of Singapore. Zining Mok, Longreads, 22 Oct. 2024 The home is easily recognizable with its jagged, undulating roofline resembling a series of cresting waves and donning hand-cut copper shingles evoking the scales of a fish. Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 1 Sep. 2024 See All Example Sentences for undulate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for undulate
Verb
  • Researchers around the world spotted an unusual oscillating sine wave sketched across seismographs.
    Darren Orf, Smithsonian Magazine, 18 Mar. 2025
  • There’s no dialogue, and the shots are often fixed at odd angles (except for one scene that rather horrifyingly uses an oscillating security camera in a parking lot) — all of which only manages to heighten the darkness of the physical comedy.
    Alison Willmore, Vulture, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Keep in mind that rental prices and room rates will fluctuate greatly during the winter and festival season, spiking in January.
    Bailey Berg, Architectural Digest, 22 Mar. 2025
  • On Friday, March 21, the actor, 44, posted a trio of photos of himself on Instagram, showing how his body size has fluctuated throughout the years.
    Escher Walcott, People.com, 22 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The pope, seated in a wheelchair, waved from the balcony and smiled.
    Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 23 Mar. 2025
  • An 11-year-old boy in the passenger seat waved a handgun and laughed as his side of the vehicle struck the cyclist.
    Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 21 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • With the Penguins leading 1-0 in the third period on Sunday in St. Paul, Crosby’s fluttering shot from the left circle just eluded Fleury’s glove and ended up as the game-winner.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 10 Mar. 2025
  • There are miles of trails and gardens to keep you busy all day, including the Cecil B. Day Butterfly Center, which is surrounded by gardens and filled with fluttering butterflies.
    Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 23 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Praise God … my entire body is vibrating with joy right now.
    Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 10 Mar. 2025
  • The room looked like an airport lounge — gleaming white tables with copies of Foreign Policy, an inaudible conference livestream — and vibrated with the energy of journalists from around the world begging to get inside.
    Caitlin L. Chandler, The Dial, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • For some in the room, Paul’s rebellion reflected their deep unease over Trump’s protectionism, which has rattled stock markets, shaken consumer confidence, and strained America’s relationships with its allies.
    Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 18 Mar. 2025
  • This structure has been shaken in less than three months of President Trump’s second administration.
    Llewellyn King, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • No small tail flickered out of sight and no trace of perforation was visible.
    Hazlitt, Hazlitt, 12 Mar. 2025
  • The night was clear, and the lights of Washington, D.C., flickered below.
    Johnny Dodd, People.com, 4 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • His long gray beard flows in convulsing waves to his shoulders.
    Alfredo Sosa, The Christian Science Monitor, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Three times in the modern era, the world has been convulsed by fights over the supercontinent and the waters around it.
    HAL BRANDS, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Undulate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/undulate. Accessed 27 Mar. 2025.

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