Synonyms of lurched

lurched

verb

past tense of lurch

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

• swayed
• rocked
• shook
• jerked
• wobbled
• careened
• tossed
• rolled
• halted
• vibrated
• faltered
• tumbled
• seesawed
• staggered
• tottered
• stumbled
• pitched
• weaved
• floundered
• waddled
• reeled
• jolted
• wavered
• hobbled
• vacillated
• blundered
• teetered
• bucked
• toddled
• hitched
• waggled
• oscillated
• doddered
• undulated
• wagged

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

• staggered
• weaved
• tottered
• shuffled
• stomped
• careened
• stumbled
• waddled
• reeled
• rolled
• teetered
• rocked
• swayed
• doddered
• wobbled
• wavered
• shambled
• floundered
• blundered
• seesawed
• barged
• pounded
• stamped
• tramped
• scuffled
• clumped
• lumbered
• lumped
• clomped
• scuffed
• swagged
• galumphed
• tromped

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of lurched

Markets have lurched up and down as oil prices shot higher because of the war with Iran. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

His car lurched forward with Miller’s arm still reaching through the window, briefly dragging the cop down the street. — Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026

For example, New York endured weather whiplash on July 18 as the city lurched from a heat wave and smoke pollution from Canadian wildfires to flash flooding from slow-moving thunderstorms that dumped a few inches of rain in a short period of time. — Andrew Freedman, CNN Money, 23 July 2026

There are vivid characters—the rich, distinguished crook Brandon, the platinum-blond secretary Miss Vermilyea; Javonen, ex-military intelligence, and seedy private eye from Kansas, Noble, who might have lurched out of an early Graham Greene story. — Literary Hub, 23 July 2026

Adams’ shoulders lurched on the bench, while Richards fell to his knees, dug his afro into the grass, and closed his eyes in pain. — Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 7 July 2026

Initial data indicates both of these earthquakes were strike-slip, Magnani said, meaning one plate lurched past the other along the boundary. — Evan Bush, NBC news, 25 June 2026

Latin America has lurched rightward in recent elections, as governments scramble to curtail violence stemming from record cocaine production. — Brendan Ruberry, semafor.com, 21 June 2026

As the carriage lurched forward, the teen’s mother fell from the vehicle, prompting Romanch Mahajan to jump out in an effort to help her, The Times reported. — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 19 June 2026