rocky

1 of 2

adjective (1)

rockier; rockiest
1
: abounding in or consisting of rocks
2
: difficult to impress or affect : insensitive
3
: firmly held : steadfast

rocky

2 of 2

adjective (2)

rockier; rockiest
1
2
: physically upset or mentally confused (as from drinking excessively)
3
: marked by obstacles or problems : difficult, rough
a financially rocky yearMichael Murray

Examples of rocky in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images Mayfield has found his path after a rocky start to his NFL career. Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 July 2025 Mount Washington is known for sudden weather changes, rocky terrain, and limited visibility, even in summer. Jasmine Baehr, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2025 Kevin Carter | Getty Images United Airlines’ second-quarter earnings beat estimates, and its CEO said travel demand is picking up after a rocky start to 2025. Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 16 July 2025 Farmers faced a rocky start to the season as February storms brought rain, hail and wind that hampered pollination, the USDA report said. Tina Li, Sacbee.com, 16 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for rocky

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

Middle English rokky, from rokke rock

Adjective (2)

rock entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1737, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rocky was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rocky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rocky. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

rocky

1 of 2 adjective
rockier; rockiest
: full of or consisting of rocks
rockiness noun

rocky

2 of 2 adjective
rockier; rockiest
1
: weak and confused and unsteady on one's feet
2
: marked by obstacles or problems : difficult
a rocky start
rockiness
-ē-nəs
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on rocky

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