1
as in swaying
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 staggering
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 lurching
Sure enough, a big rock upended from beneath my toe and sent me lurching headlong to the water.
—
Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 15 Feb. 2026
Natanya complicates her old-school character sketch with cerebral shifts in perspective, affecting each of the voices that accompany a young woman’s drive for success and independence (demanding friends and parents, sexist expectations, her own willpower) in a lurching cascade of melodies.
—H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 13 Jan. 2026
The midterm blue wave backlash is gathering, with the generic ballot lurching in the Democrats' favor and Trump’s popularity cratering.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
After 40 days, the longest government shutdown in American history finally appears to be lurching toward an end.
—Nik Popli, Time, 10 Nov. 2025
The old theater, which opened in 1925, seemed to be lurching toward its grave.
—Laura L. Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Nov. 2025
This can result in a kind of emotional whiplash, with the tone of the videos lurching between joy and devastation.
—Lindsay Lowe, Parents, 8 Nov. 2025
Back then, Newcastle’s thin squad staggered between results, lurching from challenging the best sides in the league to befuddling losses to inferior squads.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
The administration’s lurching one way and another with tariffs is another example.
—Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Bryan Hendricks, Arkansas Online, 15 Feb. 2026
Natanya complicates her old-school character sketch with cerebral shifts in perspective, affecting each of the voices that accompany a young woman’s drive for success and independence (demanding friends and parents, sexist expectations, her own willpower) in a lurching cascade of melodies.
—H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 13 Jan. 2026
The midterm blue wave backlash is gathering, with the generic ballot lurching in the Democrats' favor and Trump’s popularity cratering.
—Matt Robison, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Dec. 2025
After 40 days, the longest government shutdown in American history finally appears to be lurching toward an end.
—Nik Popli, Time, 10 Nov. 2025
The old theater, which opened in 1925, seemed to be lurching toward its grave.
—Laura L. Davis, Nashville Tennessean, 9 Nov. 2025
This can result in a kind of emotional whiplash, with the tone of the videos lurching between joy and devastation.
—Lindsay Lowe, Parents, 8 Nov. 2025
Back then, Newcastle’s thin squad staggered between results, lurching from challenging the best sides in the league to befuddling losses to inferior squads.
—Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
The administration’s lurching one way and another with tariffs is another example.
—Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 20 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurching
Verb
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Visualization is a huge part of racing, particularly in the speed disciplines of downhill and super-G, and a lot of competitors close their eyes and run the course on a loop in their minds, dipping and swaying with every turn, roller and jump.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
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Picture the golden glow of Black-eyed Susans and the architectural elegance of native grasses swaying in the prairie breeze.—
Rosehill Gardens,
Kansas City Star,
13 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Cheng likes to build muni bond ladders, which means staggering the maturity dates of multiple bonds.—
Michelle Fox,
CNBC,
29 Oct. 2025
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To get through the season and the playoffs, staggering the minutes of Green and Horford is logical, even with Quintin Post picking up some center minutes.—
Jannelle Moore,
Mercury News,
21 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Ainfox 4-Piece Outdoor Furniture Swivel Chair Sets This set comes with two sturdy swivel chairs, a rocking loveseat, and a side table—all rust- and weather-resistant, with steel framing.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
21 Feb. 2026
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In addition to Outcome, Diaz is also set to appear in the Netflix comedy Bad Day—and she's already been spotted rocking a few polarizing outfits on the set of the film!—
Meg Walters,
InStyle,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Metcalf and Pullman are both wonderful in their shuffling ordinariness, reenacting long-obsolete parental dynamics with a kind of rueful, hopeful denial.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
13 Feb. 2026
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Bridgerton treats it as though every woman got multiples of their yearbook photo to hand around as headshots, and Benedict’s taking what would have been treasured personal heirlooms and just shuffling through them and tossing out anyone with the wrong hair color.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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This new #earthquake shaking potential map from the California Geological Survey highlights the distribution of shaking hazard across #California.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
15 Feb. 2026
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Her legs were physically shaking in her beginning pose.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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There’s a common arachnid called the orb-weaving spider native to Illinois and other Midwestern states that has the falcon beat.—
Sheryl DeVore,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
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After securing her drink, the Euphoria star, sporting her signature bob and an emerald green cardigan, could be seen weaving through the crowd, eventually settling at a table with fashion editor Ella O'Keeffe and friends.—
Kelsey Stewart,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Lurching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurching. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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