1
as in volatile
likely to change frequently, suddenly, or unexpectedly
a fluctuating stock market makes it hard for investors to know what to do
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in changing
not staying constant
our speed was constantly fluctuating, so the figure of 50 miles per hour is just an average
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in varying
to pass from one form, state, or level to another
temperatures will fluctuate between the low and high 50s today
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of fluctuating
Nick Miller, The Athletic, 13 Dec. 2024
The same amount of water per unit time can arrive as a smooth, steady rain of many small drops or as a strongly fluctuating shower with fewer but much larger drops.
—Douglas Natelson, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2024
Irwin said that the characters’ runaway emotions are mirrored by the wildly fluctuating time signatures.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 25 Jan. 2024
C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2025
Humans lack the insulating blubber or specialized heat-regulating systems needed to endure fluctuating ocean temperatures.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
On offense, the supporting cast has been less reliable, with role players vastly fluctuating in shot attempts, points and usage nightly.
—Jovan Buha, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
For example, fluctuating levels of estrogen and progesterone throughout the menstrual cycle contribute to the mood swings often associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
—Laura Dorwart, Verywell Health, 2 Jan. 2025
Johnson, who briefly served as TSU's interim president, revealed years of wildly fluctuating budget deficits and financial mismanagement at the hands of previous leadership in September.
—Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 1 Jan. 2025
When the mica freezes and thaws, the panel concluded, its fluctuating size roils the surrounding concrete.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 31 Dec. 2024
Economic stimulus checks and a fluctuating stock market pushed many Americans to seek stability and income elsewhere, leading to the quick rise of collectibles and luxury goods as attractive asset classes.
—Darryl Lyons, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Skin can feel particularly fragile this time of year thanks to harsher weather conditions, dry indoor heat and fluctuating temperatures.
—Bea McMonagle, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Adjective
Many rival fans have had a good laugh at Tottenham and their wildly fluctuating results this season.
—Nick Miller, The Athletic, 13 Dec. 2024
The same amount of water per unit time can arrive as a smooth, steady rain of many small drops or as a strongly fluctuating shower with fewer but much larger drops.
—Douglas Natelson, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2024
Irwin said that the characters’ runaway emotions are mirrored by the wildly fluctuating time signatures.
—Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 25 Jan. 2024
Verb
Between ceaseless injuries and fluctuating personnel, how can any team find success in these conditions?
—C.j. Holmes, New York Daily News, 5 Jan. 2025
Humans lack the insulating blubber or specialized heat-regulating systems needed to endure fluctuating ocean temperatures.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 5 Jan. 2025
On offense, the supporting cast has been less reliable, with role players vastly fluctuating in shot attempts, points and usage nightly.
—Jovan Buha, The Athletic, 4 Jan. 2025
For example, fluctuating levels of estrogen and progesterone throughout the menstrual cycle contribute to the mood swings often associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
—Laura Dorwart, Verywell Health, 2 Jan. 2025
Johnson, who briefly served as TSU's interim president, revealed years of wildly fluctuating budget deficits and financial mismanagement at the hands of previous leadership in September.
—Rachel Wegner, The Tennessean, 1 Jan. 2025
When the mica freezes and thaws, the panel concluded, its fluctuating size roils the surrounding concrete.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 31 Dec. 2024
Economic stimulus checks and a fluctuating stock market pushed many Americans to seek stability and income elsewhere, leading to the quick rise of collectibles and luxury goods as attractive asset classes.
—Darryl Lyons, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Skin can feel particularly fragile this time of year thanks to harsher weather conditions, dry indoor heat and fluctuating temperatures.
—Bea McMonagle, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fluctuating
Adjective
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In Haiti, there hasn’t been a general election in nearly a decade; more than a million have been displaced by armed gang violence and the country’s volatile capital is on the verge of collapse.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
22 Mar. 2025
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Listen to this article For about nine minutes, Tiara Lee-Roberts and her girlfriend had a volatile argument on the 69th Street Red Line platform, prosecutors alleged, until Lee-Roberts put a gun to the woman’s neck and shot her.—
Madeline Buckley,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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From its game-changing launch on January 21st, 2025, to its innovative ecosystem, Crouton Jones is proving that trust, creativity, and community are the keys to success.—
Ethan Stone,
USA TODAY,
5 Jan. 2025
-
With technological advancements, changing consumer behaviors, and emerging trends, the potential for scalable and lucrative businesses have never been greater.—
Melissa Houston,
Forbes,
5 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Of course, politics is unpredictable, and his message could, in theory, have more resonance with Democratic primary voters this time around.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2025
-
Towards the end of the first decade of the century, the Nike Total 90 range was incredibly unpredictable in the air.—
Michael Cox,
New York Times,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Hardy calls it a social comedy and it is peppered with humor of varying effectiveness, from some silly sequences featuring a mannequin’s head to the delightfully wacky business ideas of Rakeem.—
Rick Kogan,
Chicago Tribune,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Retail stores that don’t sell liquor, like grocery stores and convenience stores, have varying hours for beer and wine sales depending on the day.—
Brandi D. Addison,
Austin American-Statesman,
24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
Hers is the kind of face that inspires directors to tight framing — gleaming, as if smoothed from marble, and yet somehow pliant, changeful.—
Jordan Kisner Jack Davison,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2022
-
Rigorous, blustery winter; winding sleety spring; hot, moist enervating summer; changeful autumn with its dog-days; these are absolutely unknown.—
San Diego Union-Tribune,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Jan. 2023
Adjective
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Nationally, learning loss recovery has been slow and uneven, especially among students of color, Axios' Russell Contreras reported.—
Chrissy Suttles,
Axios,
21 Mar. 2025
-
This, coupled with the indirect cooking required when smoking, led to uneven cooking times.—
Carrie Honaker,
Southern Living,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Home care workers who provide assistance to elderly and disabled Californians could see more wage equality, according to a recent labor report, by shifting contract negotiations to the state level instead of bargaining individually with California’s 56 individual counties.—
William Melhado,
Sacramento Bee,
8 Jan. 2025
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Embrace adaptability The pace of change in the workplace continues to accelerate, driven by advancements in technology, shifting economic conditions, and the global push towards sustainability.—
Andrew Fennell,
Forbes,
8 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Sudan has faced years of chaos and war Sudan, a nation in northeastern Africa, has been unstable since a popular uprising forced the removal of longtime autocratic President Omar Hassan Ahmed Bashir in 2019.—
Samy Magdy and Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
21 Mar. 2025
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The global geopolitical landscape has become increasingly unstable, marked by the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, rising trade tensions, and deteriorating relationships with traditional allies such as Canada, Mexico, and European nations.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fluctuating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fluctuating. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
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