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
  • Outbreaks like the avian flu can cause significant price fluctuations.
    — Brittney Melton, NPR, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Duration is a measurement of a bond's price sensitivity to fluctuations in rates, and issues with shorter maturities tend to have lower duration.
    — Anniek Bao, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of fluctuation
Noun
  • Using a quantum memory made of crystal vibrations, ETH Zürich researchers ran quantum algorithms with a single superconducting qubit.
    — Tejasri Gururaj, Interesting Engineering, 25 Oct. 2026
  • The Skullcandy app gives you access to a five-band graphic equalizer, control customization, and the level of vibration the haptic drivers deliver.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of vibration
Noun
  • These changes were intended to support the long-distance challenge, which required multiple crossings rather than a single uninterrupted run in one direction.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Rest of World received some critical acclaim and broke several stories that prompted global policy changes, including its reporting on Uber Eats in South Africa and on mapping in rural Borneo.
    — Max Tani, semafor.com, 25 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
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Cite this Entry

“Oscillation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oscillation. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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