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
-
The prospect of talks appeared to bolster the tentative ceasefire in the Iran war that has staggered under the weight of Israel’s bombardment of Beirut, Tehran’s continued chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz and uncertainty over whether talks can find common ground.—
Jon Gambrell,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Knueppel staggered, but didn’t fall.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Bruins rocked the orange carpet and then waited with UCLA coach Cori Close and their families to learn their draft fate.—
Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Your world is about to be rocked by these popular chocolates.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The pair shook hands and shared some laughs with those waiting in line to see them.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Bennedict Mathurin shook off his recent slump to score a team-high 20 points to go with nine rebounds and eight assists.—
Janis Carr,
Daily News,
13 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 17 Apr. 2026.
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