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
The relentless Chacon lurched outside after her just as his car door opened and out popped their 6-year-old son, begging his dad to stop.
—
Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
New year optimism was certainly in short supply inside Anfield as the mood lurched from restlessness to exasperation and then anger.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Suddenly everything lurched and spun and came to a crunching halt in a steep bank of trees.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Instead of taking a low profile and playing down any claims to Taiwan’s independent status like his more cautious DPP predecessor Tsai Ying-wen, Lai has lurched toward formal independence with a succession of speeches making the case for Taiwanese nationhood.
—Lyle Goldstein, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
The escalator lurched to a halt just after the pair got on.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
On Halloween of 2022, just weeks into the new school year, senior Ehni Ler Htoo was making his way through the halls of Proctor High School in Utica, New York, when a fellow student lurched at him from behind, repeatedly plunging a 9-inch hunting knife into his back.
—Tonya Simpson, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025
Roth approached the man — later identified as 29-year-old Gustavo Rojas — and his heart lurched.
—April Quevedo, jsonline.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Kirk lurched back and to the left.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 7 Jan. 2026
New year optimism was certainly in short supply inside Anfield as the mood lurched from restlessness to exasperation and then anger.
—James Pearce, New York Times, 2 Jan. 2026
Suddenly everything lurched and spun and came to a crunching halt in a steep bank of trees.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 1 Dec. 2025
Instead of taking a low profile and playing down any claims to Taiwan’s independent status like his more cautious DPP predecessor Tsai Ying-wen, Lai has lurched toward formal independence with a succession of speeches making the case for Taiwanese nationhood.
—Lyle Goldstein, Time, 23 Oct. 2025
The escalator lurched to a halt just after the pair got on.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
On Halloween of 2022, just weeks into the new school year, senior Ehni Ler Htoo was making his way through the halls of Proctor High School in Utica, New York, when a fellow student lurched at him from behind, repeatedly plunging a 9-inch hunting knife into his back.
—Tonya Simpson, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2025
Roth approached the man — later identified as 29-year-old Gustavo Rojas — and his heart lurched.
—April Quevedo, jsonline.com, 23 Sep. 2025
Kirk lurched back and to the left.
—Eric Levenson, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurched
Verb
-
Don’t be swayed by the self-congratulatory rhetoric.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The protest represented the first test of whether the Iranian public could be swayed by Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, whose fatally ill father fled Iran just before the country’s 1979 Islamic Revolution.—
Jon Gambrell,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Whether opting for the Chef’s tasting menu or à la carte, every plate feels like a little artwork—from the olive, anise, and fennel bread staggered on podiums to the sweet finale (expect imaginative combinations such as a honey milk and hay pudding).—
Rosalyn Wikeley,
Condé Nast Traveler,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The Bills had a pretty cushy road schedule this year, playing once outside the Eastern time zone, yet staggered around early.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Pamela Anderson has rocked a bob for some time now, but her latest 'do includes pops of pastel pink.—
Hannah Malach,
InStyle,
9 Jan. 2026
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That’s a huge decline from the 125 homicides that rocked the city in 2023.—
James Rainey,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The probes don’t signal a return to the era of tech crackdowns that shook investor confidence five years ago, a Reuters columnist noted, partly because they’re not driven by founders falling out of grace with Beijing.—
J.D. Capelouto,
semafor.com,
15 Jan. 2026
-
He was fired in December 2010 from his role leading the political efforts of Equality Illinois, a move that shook Chicago’s gay community.—
Jake Sheridan,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Aisha jerked and opened her eyes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The two stood nose-to-nose on the field when the Steelers player grabbed onto Chase’s facemask, jerked his head and appeared to punch him.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
16 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lurched.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurched. Accessed 17 Jan. 2026.
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