LURCHES Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

lurches 1 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of lurch

as in sways

to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions the room lurched with every jolt of the earthquake

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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

lurches

2 of 2

noun

plural of lurch

as in collapses

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of lurches

Verb

Push your right foot down, and the Grand Sport lurches forward like a bat out of hell and straight into two esses, which right away show you how nicely dialed-in the steering is. — Jerry Perez, The Drive, 3 Sep. 2026 The film unhurriedly lurches from one markedly similar fight scene to the next, with only Skeletor’s occasional injections of ripe innuendo to liven them up a bit. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 2 June 2026 By the end, Noonan’s film stops feeling like a first date and starts to resemble the makings of a crime scene as his mood lurches toward something dangerous. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 1 May 2026 Republicans’ hopes of holding on to their slim majorities in the House and Senate may well hinge on the cost at the pump as the war against Iran lurches into its second week. — Philip Elliott, Time, 10 Mar. 2026 But Wembanyama is on the short list of MVP favorites as the league lurches toward the playoffs, a list that includes former NBA champions Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of OKC, Denver’s Nikola Jokic along with Detroit’s Cade Cunningham and Los Angeles’ Luka Doncic. — Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 21 Feb. 2026 After a moment of hesitation, Harington lurches forward and plants a passionate kiss on Turner, who responds in kind. — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Feb. 2026 When, at my photographer’s request, the president approaches the window of his office to open the blinds, his bodyguard lurches forward to close them. — Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026 Sometimes an unexpected event lurches family members into becoming caregivers. — Briah Lumpkins, Charlotte Observer, 12 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurches

Verb

But forcing heavy steel trains onto a floating highway that rolls, sways, and shifts with the tides was widely considered an invitation to disaster.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026
One combat sequence at the end is genuinely excellent because the film puts actual creative effort into staging a knife-versus-ax duel on a gangplank that sways back and forth over the water.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of sways

Verb

Steely and deliberate songwriting that casually staggers down the line between rhythm and melody, laced with loose yet conscious jams.

— Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 June 2026
Like many Florida school districts, OCPS staggers start times to most efficiently use its school buses and drivers.

— Steven Walker, The Orlando Sentinel, 12 Mar. 2026

Definition of staggers

Noun

Reacher stumbles out into the street and collapses, sheets of rain washing the blood from his mighty frame.

— Chris Klimek, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026
An inquiry into baby deaths at England’s Countess of Chester Hospital finds ‘complete failure at all levels,’ saying staff missed chances to save infants as collapses mounted.

— Brian Melley, Los Angeles Times, 15 Sep. 2026

Definition of collapses

Noun

Officials said special attention will be given to gravel roads that could be susceptible to washouts and erosion.

— Detroit Free Press, Freep.com, 4 Sep. 2026
But in a world where a few basis points separates legends from washouts, a 10-point edge is an enormous windfall for anyone who trusted Kalshi’s numbers over those crunched by CME, the giant futures-exchange operator.

— Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of washouts

Verb

The Heat could opt to be patient with the 15th standard contract slot and wait to see who shakes free on the buyout market in January and February.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
While operating, Joseph shakes off the space madness by recalling La’an’s advice.

— Keith Phipps, Vulture, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of shakes

Noun

Finally, Vic gives up on being wheelbarrowed and full-body flops on the floor with only their feet under the velvet rope.

— Tasha Robinson, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2026
But after Annapurna moved from financing its movies to distributing them in 2017, costs rose, flops piled up, and Megan Ellison scaled back her ambitions.

— Brent Lang, IndieWire, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of flops

Noun

Sometimes upsets are fluky, with some pivotal breaks going the underdogs' way.

— Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Here, Ava Wallace, Matt Futterman and James Hansen present their takeaways from the final Grand Slam of 2026, from the best matches and biggest upsets to their abiding memories.

— Ava Wallace, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of upsets

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“Lurches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurches. Accessed 18 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of lurches

verb

noun

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