What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
wabbling
Example
The toddler was wabbling as he tried to walk on his own. [wabbling: verb]
Example
The table was wabbling because one of the legs was shorter than the others. [wabbling: present participle]
Example
The company's stock price has been wabbling for the past few months. [wabbling: gerund]
fluctuating
Example
The temperature has been fluctuating between hot and cold all week. [fluctuating: present participle]
Example
The company's profits have been fluctuating for the past year. [fluctuating: present participle]
Example
The exchange rate between the two currencies has been fluctuating for the past month. [fluctuating: present participle]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Fluctuating is more commonly used than wabbling in everyday language. Fluctuating is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while wabbling is less common and typically used in more specific situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between wabbling and fluctuating?
Both wabbling and fluctuating are relatively informal words and can be used in casual conversation. However, fluctuating may be more appropriate in formal writing or professional contexts due to its broader range of applications.