pendular

adjective

pen·​du·​lar ˈpen-jə-lər How to pronounce pendular (audio)
ˈpen-dyə-,
-də-
: being or resembling the movement of a pendulum

Examples of pendular in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
By rejecting the political and economic tenets of the North American neighborhood, López Obrador is reviving views of Mexico as a country subject to pendular macroeconomic policy shifts and presidential whims, which produced crisis after crisis in the 1970s and 1980s. Denise Dresser, Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2022 If Argentina can finally break the cycle of pendular moves in every presidential election, then moderation could pave the way to predictability and potentially growth. Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes, 1 June 2022 The arc of every private moral sphere is in constant pendular motion. Washington Post, 20 Aug. 2021 As such, prioritizing growth, employment and wages over inflation represents a pendular shift from the intense focus on price stability that began in the wake of the hyper-inflation of the 1970s. Tom Saler, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2021 As many historians can attest, American presidential elections tend to be pendular; the country tires of the incumbent, the country’s mood then swings, and voters replace him with someone as unlike that person as possible. Washington Post, 7 Nov. 2019 Our pendular system already offers a way to apply small amounts of pressure with one foot for resulting tiny adjustments. Lee Hutchinson, Ars Technica, 23 Sep. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pendular was in 1759

Dictionary Entries Near pendular

Cite this Entry

“Pendular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pendular. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Medical Definition

pendular

adjective
pen·​du·​lar ˈpen-jə-lər, ˈpen-d(y)ə- How to pronounce pendular (audio)
: characterized by or being regular rhythmic movement especially from side to side
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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