rock 1 of 3

slang
as in gem
a usually valuable stone cut and polished for ornament a trophy wife with enough rocks to open her own jewelry store

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rock

2 of 3

verb

1
2
as in to shake
to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side the drunk rocked on his heels for a moment and then fell flat on his back

Synonyms & Similar Words

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rock

3 of 3

adjective

Synonym Chooser

How is the word rock different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of rock are agitate, convulse, and shake. While all these words mean "to move up and down or to and fro with some violence," rock suggests a swinging or swaying motion resulting from violent impact or upheaval.

the whole city was rocked by the explosion

When could agitate be used to replace rock?

The synonyms agitate and rock are sometimes interchangeable, but agitate suggests a violent and prolonged tossing or stirring.

an ocean agitated by storms

Where would convulse be a reasonable alternative to rock?

In some situations, the words convulse and rock are roughly equivalent. However, convulse suggests a violent pulling or wrenching as of a body in a paroxysm.

spectators were convulsed with laughter

When is it sensible to use shake instead of rock?

The meanings of shake and rock largely overlap; however, shake often carries a further implication of a particular purpose.

shake well before using

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rock
Noun
Those years brought a new swath of fans to Gunn’s meditative folk and rock sounds, showcased on low-key masterpieces like 2019’s The Unseen In Between. Simon Vozick-Levinson, Rolling Stone, 5 Nov. 2025 Waves can wash people off beaches and rocks, and capsize small boats nearshore. Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 5 Nov. 2025
Verb
The Belgian Catholic Church has been rocked by a series of devastating clerical abuse scandals in recent years, which Pope Francis confronted directly during a visit to Belgium last year, spending more than two hours with survivors. Christopher Lamb, CNN Money, 8 Nov. 2025 Last month, the NBA was rocked by a widespread betting investigation. Chantz Martin, FOXNews.com, 7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
Chicago post-rock staples Tortoise are back with their first new album in nine years. Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 9 Sep. 2025 Today the band continues to push creative boundaries with their broad sonic palette and through collaborations with a diverse array of Korean artists, from K-pop stars like IU and Stray Kids to the experimental post-rock group Jambinai. Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rock
Noun
  • Choudhary, a collector of contemporary art as well as Indian artifacts, considered a career in hospitality before he was seduced by the gems his family has traded for centuries.
    Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Orio Extending from the coast, over the mountains, and then dropping into a valley anchored by a river, Orio is a beloved gem in the Basque Country.
    Michelle Arellano Martin, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • But Trescothick admitted the fixture is unlikely to sway selection too drastically for the start of the Ashes.
    Michael Bailey, New York Times, 11 Nov. 2025
  • However, a petition is unlikely to sway the opinion of Iger and the brass at Disney.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Light shaking was detected, and people in several cities - including Hercules, San Francisco, Berkeley, Oakland and Fremont - reported feeling the tremor, according to the USGS DYFI report.
    CA Earthquake Bot, Sacbee.com, 9 Nov. 2025
  • Trim the dead parts, shake the soil off, and store them in a cool, dark location where they are protected from the cold.
    Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Elkins was stunned by how quickly the video gained traction.
    Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
  • On November 3, Paddington’s press tour brought him to the BBC, where journalist David Sillito was stunned into silence after seeing the bear in the flesh fur.
    Jennifer Zhan, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Han isn’t surprised that global firms are now embracing Chinese robotaxis.
    Sydney Lake, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025
  • The tight race has surprised some in the traditionally blue state, which has had a Democratic governor for the past eight years and a legislature controlled by Democrats for even longer.
    Joe Hernandez, NPR, 5 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The content creator dressed in a stunning array of jewels, a chain-style seashell dress from Paco Rabanne retailing for nearly $4,000, and a metallic purse.
    Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 7 Nov. 2025
  • The cash, gold, jewels, and crypto are all ready.
    Kaycee Sloan, Cincinnati Enquirer, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • This can result in a kind of emotional whiplash, with the tone of the videos lurching between joy and devastation.
    Lindsay Lowe, Parents, 8 Nov. 2025
  • Perry’s films can lurch from romance to madcap Madea comedy to skeletons-in-the-closet family drama and back…all in the space of 20 minutes.
    Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Rayo began 2023-24 well under Iraola’s successor Francisco Rodriguez but then started to falter.
    Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • The Rams did not falter and an 80-yard kickoff return touchdown for Jameson Bongiolatti cut the deficit to 21-7.
    Brian Roach, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rock. Accessed 15 Nov. 2025.

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