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
Elle McLogan, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
Don’t gag, don’t cry — and my stomach lurched.
—Kate Crane, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 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
Another neighbor recalled an elevator lurching between floors.
—Elle McLogan, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026
Don’t gag, don’t cry — and my stomach lurched.
—Kate Crane, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 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
-
That this reunion brought such a vast majority of his grads to push Schwarzman for selfies may mean he’s truly destined to sway the world on a more peaceful path.—
Shawn Tully,
Fortune,
2 May 2026
-
One key problem with California’s direct democracy is that voters are easily swayed by broad promises, but then lose interest in real-world outcomes.—
Steven Greenhut,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Together the strangers slung Haridasse's arms over their shoulders and staggered to the finish line as a trio.—
Scott Simon,
NPR,
25 Apr. 2026
-
The bill, which passed with bipartisan support, addressed concerns about giving one party too much power by staggering the new authorizations out over a 0-year period.—
Sharon Bernstein,
Sacbee.com,
24 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
While the weekend isn't looking like a washout, a few rounds of showers are likely across the state.—
Steven Sosna,
CBS News,
20 Apr. 2026
-
On the other hand, cool‑season sod farmers usually grow Kentucky bluegrass, which germinates slowly compared to other turfgrass species, increasing the risk of washouts.—
Ryan Bearss,
The Conversation,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Abel made the rounds across the floor, stopping at each booth to greet employees and shake hands with shareholders.—
Yun Li,Alex Harring,Sarah Min,
CNBC,
2 May 2026
-
Bake until lemon curd is set but still jiggles slightly when gently shaken, 18–24 minutes.—
Jesse Szewczyk,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
The episode ends with Teddy getting a voicemail from Owen and overhearing a bridge collapse and car crash that may be fatal.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
1 May 2026
-
An epic collapse in Game 3 put them on the back foot.—
David Troy,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Zack Bolduc and Cole Caufield, on the power play, had spotted Montreal a 2-0 lead as the Bell Centre absolutely rocked again in the anticipation and hope that perhaps their team might take a 3-1 lead over the favoured Lightning.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The explosion was part of a wave of attacks in recent days which have rocked Cauca and fueled security concerns ahead of presidential elections next month.—
Alfie Pannell,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These are the kinds of performances a team needs to pull off an upset of the magnitude that the Wolves just pulled off.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
1 May 2026
-
Others have shown flashes of brilliance or loom as long-shot upsets.—
Kayla Hayempour,
NBC news,
1 May 2026
Noun
-
The chicken and beer fiasco in 2011.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Contained within all these fiascoes is a subtly different conservative movement.—
Benjamin Wallace-Wells,
New Yorker,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lurch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurch. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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