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
Cite this Entry
“Pendulum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pendulum. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.
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