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 Hoell and his colleagues analyzed nearly four decades of El Niño and La Niña oscillations and wildfire burn areas to understand how often the fire season mirrors the climate cycle. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 22 July 2026 Rapid oscillations trigger muscle contractions that can indirectly support lymph movement. — Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 30 June 2026 When two black holes collide, their song ripples through the very fabric of existence, creating a thundering chorus of oscillations in spacetime that echo across the universe like the fading gong of a bell. — Sam MacDonald, Scientific American, 26 June 2026 China’s Jiangmen Underground Neutrino Observatory (JUNO) launched in 2025; initial data published in June 2026 provided the most precise measurements of neutrino oscillation reported to date. — Simon Frantz, Quanta Magazine, 24 June 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
  • And their total hours worked don’t always account for wait times, while fluctuations in user demand can make income unpredictable.
    — Jacob Lederman, The Conversation, 7 Aug. 2026
  • The price fluctuations of digital assets are the most important.
    — K.H. Koehler, Ascend Agency, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of fluctuation
Noun
  • Everyday Seismic Noise Although earthquakes are the most familiar source of seismic activity, scientists regularly detect vibrations caused by people.
    — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The vibrations push against the air surrounding the speaker, creating sound waves.
    — Tam Nguyen, The Conversation, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of vibration
Noun
  • The fallout from that controversial attempt has divided the soccer landscape, with continental confederations and individual national associations all split on whether a change in FIFA leadership is needed.
    — Ben Church, CNN Money, 11 Aug. 2026
  • The Skoll Foundation catalyzes transformational social change by investing in, connecting, and championing social entrepreneurs and other social innovators who together advance bold and equitable solutions to the world’s most pressing problems.
    — Big Think, Big Think, 11 Aug. 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
  • But Tuesday’s shaking, which toppled shelves and hurled computers to the floor, was worse in Yatsushiro than anything Matsushita experienced a decade ago.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 30 July 2026
  • During the many scenes of roiling seas and inevitable shipwrecks, the shaking met the action appropriately.
    — Matt Minton, Variety, 22 July 2026
Definition of shaking
Noun
  • When the trembling decreased, the 27-year-old mother took the stairs seven stories down with her young child in her arms and evacuated the building.
    — Nicole Acevedo, NBC news, 10 Aug. 2026
  • 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
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 15 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of oscillation for Spanish Speakers

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