1
as in sways
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 staggers
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 lurches
Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
Despite that notable change, watching One Battle After Another is much like the experience of reading Pynchon, who lurches from high comedy to stomach-turning naturalism and punctuates plot-heavy sequences with little grace notes of character portraiture.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 24 Sep. 2025
That film begins with charismatic bank robber Ryan Gosling in a thrilling motorcycle escape from the cops, and moves through several twists and turns, lurches forward in time, and holds Gosling at its heart as a man doing bad things for good reasons.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
Verb
But as the shutdown lurches through its fifth week, and legislators direct blame at each other, food pantries across the Kansas City area are left to grapple with the fallout.
—Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 31 Oct. 2025
Despite that notable change, watching One Battle After Another is much like the experience of reading Pynchon, who lurches from high comedy to stomach-turning naturalism and punctuates plot-heavy sequences with little grace notes of character portraiture.
—Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 24 Sep. 2025
That film begins with charismatic bank robber Ryan Gosling in a thrilling motorcycle escape from the cops, and moves through several twists and turns, lurches forward in time, and holds Gosling at its heart as a man doing bad things for good reasons.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurches
Verb
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As the two hugged, Hayley flashed a strip of sonogram photos at the camera as the couple smiles and sways in the sunlight.—
Kayla Grant,
PEOPLE,
5 Jan. 2026
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From leathery leaves to porcupine-like seedheads to foliage that sways gracefully, perennials offer all kinds of engaging winter interest.—
Megan Hughes,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The logistical feat those intrepid women accomplished staggers the mind of any contemporary author.—
Adrian Miller,
Southern Living,
28 Oct. 2025
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For his part, Gonzalez staggers outside and falls to his knees.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Both have endured crippling US sanctions that have precipitated economic collapses.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN Money,
7 Jan. 2026
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The argument against aggression in Ukraine collapses.—
Jon Duffy,
Mercury News,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Adapted from the first book in Herron's Zoë Boehm series, Down Cemetery Road follows Sarah Trafford (Wilson), a woman who becomes obsessed with the sudden disappearance of her young neighbor after a house explosion rocks their neighborhood.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Nov. 2025
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Bethenny Frankel rocks a baby blue dress at the RoC Skincare Lip Volumizer Pop Up Event in Los Angeles.—
Lex Goldstein,
PEOPLE,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The storm also left people trapped in seven vehicles on nearby roads after overflowing creeks caused washouts, deputies said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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The agency expects to hire 8,900 new air traffic controllers by 2028, but because of factors like attrition, retirements and program washouts, this will only result in 1,000 more certified controllers, according to FAA documents.—
Danielle Chemtob,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Kicking off the Year With Self-Care These days, her morning ritual also includes Premier Protein shakes.—
Leslie D. Rose,
Parents,
6 Jan. 2026
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Berto is seen walking back to his truck, while the Tahoe driver walks toward the front end of the Tahoe, looks down at the bumper and shakes his head before turning to point the firearm at Berto, the affidavit said.—
Timia Cobb
Breaking News Reporter,
Dallas Morning News,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Floridians normally wearing flip flops were bundled up to ring in the new year.—
Abby Dodge,
CBS News,
31 Dec. 2025
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But what happens when such a bold film flops, both critically and commercially, as Jarmusch’s, alas, did?—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
22 Dec. 2025
Noun
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Green Bay was on the wrong end of one of the biggest upsets in years last Sunday, losing to the Panthers as two-touchdown underdogs.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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All six of those teams have either two or three total conference games left on their schedule, so the chances for those upsets to take place are minimal.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lurches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurches. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.
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