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
Munkhtuya Rentsenbat, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Covering them can help mimic the conditions of a cellar—insulating them against fluctuating temperatures and keeping them from drying out.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025
Steve Madden Long-Sleeve Chambray Romper Dressing for fall’s fluctuating temperatures is all about finding the correct balance, and this romper from Steve Madden offers just the right amount of coverage.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
After fluctuating in the wake of the report, the stock gained more than 3% during the conference call.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 5 Sep. 2025
Five teenagers witnessed these lights fluctuating in sequence, suddenly diving at a 45-degree angle toward the water’s surface.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
The price of gold followed a similar upward trajectory in 2023, with fluctuating interest rates, banking issues, and fears of a recession contributing to the boom.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2025
For some 430 million years, fire has been a persistent if fluctuating feature of planet Earth.
—Peter Brannen, Big Think, 28 Aug. 2025
The decades since have been marked by fluctuating tensions, and relations in recent years on the peninsula have become more strained.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
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
Leaders should forecast infrastructure gaps and fluctuating demand cycles, and implement flexible risk management.
—Munkhtuya Rentsenbat, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
Covering them can help mimic the conditions of a cellar—insulating them against fluctuating temperatures and keeping them from drying out.
—Katie Rosenhouse, Southern Living, 7 Sep. 2025
Steve Madden Long-Sleeve Chambray Romper Dressing for fall’s fluctuating temperatures is all about finding the correct balance, and this romper from Steve Madden offers just the right amount of coverage.
—Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 7 Sep. 2025
After fluctuating in the wake of the report, the stock gained more than 3% during the conference call.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 5 Sep. 2025
Five teenagers witnessed these lights fluctuating in sequence, suddenly diving at a 45-degree angle toward the water’s surface.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2025
The price of gold followed a similar upward trajectory in 2023, with fluctuating interest rates, banking issues, and fears of a recession contributing to the boom.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 2 Sep. 2025
For some 430 million years, fire has been a persistent if fluctuating feature of planet Earth.
—Peter Brannen, Big Think, 28 Aug. 2025
The decades since have been marked by fluctuating tensions, and relations in recent years on the peninsula have become more strained.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for fluctuating
Adjective
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Yet last week’s warning from Jet2, a business respected for its cost control and excellent customer service, has served as a reminder that, for all the impressive growth of recent years, this remains a volatile and sometimes unpredictable sector.—
Ian King,
CNBC,
10 Sep. 2025
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While any single month can be volatile and revisions can further change our understanding, hiring ground to a halt in May and June in the uncertain aftermath of the Liberation Day tariff announcements.—
Jeffrey Schulze,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Traditional data lakes can store raw data at scale but lack quality controls, while warehouses enforce structure but struggle with unstructured or fast changing data.—
Matthew Kayser,
USA Today,
12 Sep. 2025
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Other exciting territory in The Grand Finale involved Mary’s changing relationship with the other Crawley women.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Charleston’s unpredictable climate means summer can stretch well into October, then randomly resurface in January.—
Jenn Rice,
Forbes.com,
12 Sep. 2025
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With recent polls showing Mamdani leading his rivals by double digits, the intersection of Hochul’s pragmatism, Mamdani’s outreach, and the powerful symbolism of their evolving relationship promises a uniquely unpredictable contest for New York’s future.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Essentially, different hospitals, clinics or research facilities use different scanners, with varying calibration, coils and software.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
8 Sep. 2025
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Instead, varying covers will entice buyers, not songs only available on one version or another, or even special re-releases with additional cuts, which the Grammy winner has relied on in the past.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
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
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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
Adjective
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Even when Clark returned, her performance was uneven.—
Sabreena Merchant,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
-
This helps smooth out fingerprints or uneven spots, giving the frame a more professional look.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
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To maintain tanks’ relevance, Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have covered them in different configurations of armor as ad hoc solutions to rapidly shifting tactics.—
Marco Hernandez,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
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The Globe’s decision to stand by McCarthy is the latest in a series of indications that newsroom culture is shifting radically to match this backlash moment.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
The situation at home was unstable.—
Rebecca Mead,
New Yorker,
8 Sep. 2025
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Companies that lean too far in one direction risk either frustrating users with delays or damaging trust with unstable or inaccurate outputs.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Fluctuating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fluctuating. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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