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
Matt Gelb, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025
The Phillies insist there is nothing wrong with Romano, who is perplexed at his fluctuating velocity.
—Matt Gelb, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2025
The pattern of fluctuating fortunes continued with six straight victories across all competitions and then a draw at champions Manchester City in the seven matches after that thrashing at Forest.
—Andy Naylor, New York Times, 9 Apr. 2025
Among other possible benefits for financial agility, enterprises might be able to adjust budgets more quickly in response to fluctuating exchange rates.
—Robert Kramer, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
As of Wednesday, stocks are fluctuating with the S&P 500 down 5 points, The Dow dropped 225 points, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq is up by 96 points.
—Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
What To Know Cooper, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, argues that modest upfront payments could reignite engagement among borrowers who have become disillusioned or confused by fluctuating federal policy.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Apr. 2025
The transition leading to menopause, known as perimenopause, can last several years and is characterized by fluctuating levels of hormones, including estrogen and progesterone.
—Matthew Nudy, The Conversation, 4 Apr. 2025
Wondering how to dress for spring’s fluctuating temperatures?
—Jamie Allison Sanders, People.com, 2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
Many rival fans have had a good laugh at Tottenham and their wildly fluctuating results this season.
—Verb
Jordan Romano, whose fluctuating fastball velocity perplexed everyone, fired some 96 mph heaters in a clean frame.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for fluctuating
Adjective
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Relievers have always been volatile, prone to inconsistency and bouts of wildness.—
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Mitch McConnell Breaks with Trump by Blasting Global Tariff Plan: 'Trade Wars Hurt Working People Most' While stocks are volatile, experts advise relying on stable cash investments, which will be able to mitigate the years after retirement when people may need to dip into savings.—
Verb
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In a conversation with Newsweek, Goldsmith discussed the role of emerging machine-learning tools and automation in the workplace and new ways of approaching recruiting, talent strategy, and productivity in today's fast-changing times.—
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This is pretty game-changing for consumers, and just the start of what Alexa+ will do.—
Adjective
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Fittingly, given the unpredictable nature of the campaign, who knows what the result or circumstances will be at Tottenham Hotspur on the day Hurzeler’s first season draws to a close?—
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Probably Not Complicating matters is that Trump’s trade policy is unpredictable.—
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.—
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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.—
Adjective
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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.—
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Rigorous, blustery winter; winding sleety spring; hot, moist enervating summer; changeful autumn with its dog-days; these are absolutely unknown.—
Adjective
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The airflow also seemed uneven, requiring trays to be rotated during the dehydrating process.—
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After running out of steam with the uneven 1992 sister albums Lucky Town and Human Touch, Springsteen spent most of the decade raising his kids and tentatively circling a reunion with the E Street Band while searching for new directions.—
Verb
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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.—
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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.—
Adjective
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If someone is making credible threats or is mentally unstable, existing laws already allow for arrests, mental health evaluations, and emergency detentions—all of which come with constitutional safeguards.—
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This unstable dwelling, with its crumbling walls and lack of proper bedrooms for the children, comes to stand for a far more sinister lack of boundaries.—
Cite this Entry
“Fluctuating.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/fluctuating. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.
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