1
as in swayed
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 staggered
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lurched
Don’t gag, don’t cry — and my stomach lurched.
—
Kate Crane, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
Since then, the larger culture has lurched rightward, with big corporations abandoning progressive signaling in favor of…other priorities.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
Over the course of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s term, CPS has lurched from budget crisis to budget crisis, able only to muddle through due to record-breaking mayoral declarations of tax-increment-financing surpluses.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Elsewhere in town, the original creature, played by Christian Bale, has lurched here from Austria still on his lonely quest for companionship.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Then, just as abruptly, the plane lurched up, slamming everyone back to the ground.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
According to prosecutors, when other drivers honked at him, Alvardo woke up and lurched his vehicle forward, striking 70-year-old crossing guard John Miro, who was on the sidewalk at Sunrise Highway and Merrick Avenue.
—Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
The big polar bear lurched forward, hitting top speed in two strides.
—Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 4 Feb. 2026
As Matt Woosnam reflected recently, the Premier League’s feel-good story has lurched into night terrors.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Kate Crane, Rolling Stone, 2 Apr. 2026
Since then, the larger culture has lurched rightward, with big corporations abandoning progressive signaling in favor of…other priorities.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 25 Mar. 2026
Over the course of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s term, CPS has lurched from budget crisis to budget crisis, able only to muddle through due to record-breaking mayoral declarations of tax-increment-financing surpluses.
—The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 11 Mar. 2026
Elsewhere in town, the original creature, played by Christian Bale, has lurched here from Austria still on his lonely quest for companionship.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
Then, just as abruptly, the plane lurched up, slamming everyone back to the ground.
—Burkhard Bilger, New Yorker, 2 Mar. 2026
According to prosecutors, when other drivers honked at him, Alvardo woke up and lurched his vehicle forward, striking 70-year-old crossing guard John Miro, who was on the sidewalk at Sunrise Highway and Merrick Avenue.
—Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 27 Feb. 2026
The big polar bear lurched forward, hitting top speed in two strides.
—Scott Haugen, Outdoor Life, 4 Feb. 2026
As Matt Woosnam reflected recently, the Premier League’s feel-good story has lurched into night terrors.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 3 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurched
Verb
-
But Joy isn’t swayed by his appeal.—
Ben Rosenstock,
Vulture,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Steinbrenner made clear that the Yankees would stay in New York and not be swayed with a shiny new stadium in the Meadowlands where the NFL’s New York Giants and New York Jets would go on to play.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Hunt times are staggered according to age groups.—
Kaycee Sloan,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Plus, the Herro and Powell minutes likely will continue to be as staggered as when one started and one played in reserve, with Herro subbed out midway through Wednesday night’s first quarter.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
At the other end of the spectrum, Nicholas Hoult subtly flexed a rose-gold Jaeger-LeCoultre Reverso with an elegant Milanese bracelet courtside at a Lakers game and John Mulaney rocked the rare Gérald Genta Geneva Minute Repeater on the streets of New York.—
Rachel Cormack,
Robb Report,
4 Apr. 2026
-
In the most lopsided home opener loss in Colorado history, Lorenzen — who pitched for the Phillies in the second half of 2023 following a deadline trade from Detroit — got rocked.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
4 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
When Bradford delivered the detail about the sandwich, the board and attendees laughed and shook their heads.—
Chevall Pryce,
Baltimore Sun,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Stocks shook off an early stumble to finish with slim gains on Wall Street Thursday and close out their first winning week since the start of the Iran war.—
Damian J. Troise,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
We are jerked between past and present as his backstory gets filled in, one jogged memory at a time.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Aisha jerked and opened her eyes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lurched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurched. Accessed 8 Apr. 2026.
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