pendulum
swinging weight / oscillating device / fluctuating state
Noun
pl: pendulums
This term evokes a rhythmic, mechanical precision, often associated with the steady passage of time or the laws of physics. It carries a connotation of inevitability and regularity, where every movement in one direction must eventually be balanced by a return movement. When used to describe social or political trends, it suggests a cyclical nature of human behavior. It implies that extremes are unstable and that a society will naturally drift toward one pole before inevitably swinging back toward the opposite extreme.
Meanings
Noun
A weight suspended from a pivot so that it can swing freely back and forth under the influence of gravity.
"The grandfather clock has a heavy brass pendulum that ticks steadily."