pendulum
noun
pen·du·lum
ˈpen-jə-ləm 
ˈpen-dyə-,
-də-
1
: a body suspended from a fixed point so as to swing freely to and fro under the action of gravity and commonly used to regulate movements (as of clockwork)
2
: something (such as a state of affairs) that alternates between opposites
doesn't take much to swing the pendulum of opinion the other way
Examples of pendulum in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The pendulum had swung firmly in Dvalishvili's favor by Round 4.
—
David Faris, Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2025
The pendulum need not swing so far in either direction.
—Letters To The Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2025
The pendulum swung back in the other direction Tuesday night.
—Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
Encouraging that patience and investment in art, that has been honored this year in a big way after the pendulum swing of TikTok short form.
—Lyndsey Havens, Billboard, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for pendulum 
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David Faris, Newsweek, 19 Jan. 2025
The pendulum need not swing so far in either direction.
—Letters To The Editor, Orlando Sentinel, 17 Jan. 2025
The pendulum swung back in the other direction Tuesday night.
—Harman Dayal, The Athletic, 14 Jan. 2025
Encouraging that patience and investment in art, that has been honored this year in a big way after the pendulum swing of TikTok short form.
—Lyndsey Havens, Billboard, 13 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for pendulum
Dictionary Entries Near pendulum
Cite this Entry
“Pendulum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pendulum. Accessed 23 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
pendulum
noun
pen·du·lum
ˈpen-jə-ləm
: a body hung from a fixed point so as to swing freely back and forth under the action of gravity
Etymology
from scientific Latin pendulum "something suspended so as to swing freely," from Latin pendulus "suspended," from pendēre "to hang" — related to depend, perpendicular
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