1
as in to sway
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions
the room lurched with every jolt of the earthquake
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to stagger
to move forward while swaying from side to side
dressed in his zombie costume, the boy lurched down the street in his quest for Halloween candy
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in washout
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lurch
Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 6 May 2026
By the end, Noonan’s film stops feeling like a first date and starts to resemble the makings of a crime scene as his mood lurches toward something dangerous.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 1 May 2026
Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
The hope is that the institutional reforms started by the interim administration of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus deliver the necessary checks and balances to avert another lurch toward despotism.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lurch
Verb
These are some of the heaviest grooves that Seefeel have created in ages, channeling lurching currents through intricate chains of dub delay.
—Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 6 May 2026
By the end, Noonan’s film stops feeling like a first date and starts to resemble the makings of a crime scene as his mood lurches toward something dangerous.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 1 May 2026
Noun
Newsom, who has appeared on Real Time, could benefit from a lurch toward the middle, Maher told The California Post.
—Kevin Dolak, HollywoodReporter, 30 Jan. 2026
The hope is that the institutional reforms started by the interim administration of Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus deliver the necessary checks and balances to avert another lurch toward despotism.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 28 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lurch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurch
Verb
-
Rather than tightly clinging to the body, the dress moves freely, swaying to the rhythm of its own silhouette.—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
-
One big question now, Thomas says, is whether a tie-up with a paragon of fast-fashion alienates Everlane's current clientele — or sways Shein shoppers to trade up.—
Alina Selyukh,
NPR,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Space the shrubs a little further apart, then stagger them so the back row screens your view.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
16 May 2026
-
The Chiefs staggered throughout the campaign and looked like a husk of their usual, dominant selves.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
Noun
-
There will be several chances for rain across Maryland Wednesday through early next week, but none of the days are looking like washouts.—
Cutter Martin,
CBS News,
6 May 2026
-
This is an ideal grass for patching after a washout.—
Lee Wallender,
The Spruce,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Built from the bones of a 12th-century hostelry, its hub is a vast, glamorous lounge bar complete with mixologists shaking modern-day mocktails under the ancient beams.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 May 2026
-
Saleh shook off his 0-for-3 day leading up to the pivotal at-bat and was ready to pounce.—
Patrick Z. McGavin,
Chicago Tribune,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
The film centers on Abdul Ahad Momand, who traveled to the Mir space station in 1988 as Afghanistan neared collapse – a moment of brief national hope that has since been largely scrubbed from public memory.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
22 May 2026
-
Perhaps there is a collapse coming, the duo seems to say, as the ability of our systems to sustain themselves gets shakier.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
To accentuate her silver metallic gown, Twain rocked rocked full bangs teamed with long auburn tresses.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
18 May 2026
-
Nobody can rock the boat with quite the same deft moves as she.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
Philly’s health is fickle, but the upside is evident after a first-round upset of Boston.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
19 May 2026
-
Neither one of these people appears to be enjoying themselves, but the woman soon begins to grunt with the bestial upset of a werewolf under a full moon.—
David Ehrlich,
IndieWire,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The fiasco left aspiring translators in Korea, most of them people of color, with one less route into the profession, further enabling white people’s social and actual capital to be kept within their possession.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 May 2026
-
The fiasco played out for days and led to in-depth reviews at both the BBC and BAFTA.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lurch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurch. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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