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
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Recent Examples of oscillation
Two airflow outlets on either side of the loop can be configured for 0, 45, or 90 degrees of oscillation action.
—
John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 28 Apr. 2026
That is an oscillation of the Moon, causing parts near the edge of the disc that are often not visible from the Earth to sometimes come into view.
—Ray Petelin, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
There are some adjustments that stand out — the Nationals are crushing fastballs and swinging less with two strikes — but overall, this is an offense of oscillation.
—Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026
For instance, light particles like positrons (or electrons, in this experiment) need extremely fast oscillations, gigahertz (GHz) frequencies, to stay confined.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oscillation
John R. Delaney, PC Magazine, 28 Apr. 2026
That is an oscillation of the Moon, causing parts near the edge of the disc that are often not visible from the Earth to sometimes come into view.
—Ray Petelin, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
There are some adjustments that stand out — the Nationals are crushing fastballs and swinging less with two strikes — but overall, this is an offense of oscillation.
—Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2026
For instance, light particles like positrons (or electrons, in this experiment) need extremely fast oscillations, gigahertz (GHz) frequencies, to stay confined.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 11 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for oscillation
Recent Examples of Synonyms for oscillation
Noun
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Chip shortages have been seen before—almost everyone will remember the 2021 COVID-19 shortage, which caused price fluctuations in cars, smartphones and appliances.—
Sarwant Singh,
Forbes.com,
27 May 2026
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Roughly 12 hours after the storm slammed into the planet, MAVEN recorded unusual fluctuations in Mars' upper atmosphere, according to the study.—
Sharmila Kuthunur,
Space.com,
26 May 2026
Noun
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Apple will consider several signals before locking a phone, including those from the phone’s accelerometer, which measures its movement, vibrations, and sudden shocks.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
27 May 2026
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York County residents routinely display anti data center signs due to concerns about water and power use, noise, vibrations and overall fit within rural areas.—
John Marks,
Charlotte Observer,
27 May 2026
Noun
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The implosion occurred during a shift change, and the six workers whose bodies were found were in an area of the site where workers would go before their shift, Matt Amos, Longview fire battalion chief, said, per The Guardian.—
Adam England,
PEOPLE,
29 May 2026
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Potential side effects of GLP-1s include nausea, vomiting, changes in vision, low blood sugar, and, in rare cases, thyroid cancer.—
Maia Rosenfeld,
NBC news,
29 May 2026
Noun
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Casting near banks and using a twitching technique can increase success during the hatch.—
Dac Collins,
Outdoor Life,
14 May 2026
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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
Noun
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Earthquakes' sudden, rapid shaking can cause fires, tsunamis, landslides or avalanches.—
CA Earthquake Bot,
Sacbee.com,
23 May 2026
Noun
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All the trembling, as Kimbangu touched the sick, alarmed European settlers and reassured the plantation workers who trekked to Nkamba in search of healing.—
Rodney Muhumuza,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
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At first this change of scale vivifies the butterfly—its brief stillness, the angle of its wings, its trembling—while freezing everything else, including the novel’s action.—
Ben Lerner,
The New York Review of Books,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Oscillation.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/oscillation. Accessed 30 May. 2026.
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