as in gem
a usually valuable stone cut and polished for ornament
a trophy wife with enough rocks to open her own jewelry store
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to sway
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions
the boat was rocking so much that several passengers felt seasick
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to shake
to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side
the drunk rocked on his heels for a moment and then fell flat on his back
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in to stun
to make senseless or dizzy by a blow
she rocked the mugger with a single punch and then ran
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in to surprise
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
the news of the mayor's sudden death rocked the city
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in rocklike
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
as in jewels
a usually valuable stone cut and polished for ornament
a trophy wife with enough rocks to open her own jewelry store
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in sways
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions
the boat was rocking so much that several passengers felt seasick
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in shakes
to swing unsteadily back and forth or from side to side
the drunk rocked on his heels for a moment and then fell flat on his back
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in stuns
to make senseless or dizzy by a blow
she rocked the mugger with a single punch and then ran
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in surprises
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
the news of the mayor's sudden death rocked the city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of rock
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2026
Headquarters is a great little rock-and-roll album.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2026
Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
While crews were investigating, an explosion rocked the 15th and 16th floors, setting off multiple fires and briefly trapping firefighters in an elevator.
—Mark Prussin, CBS News, 24 Jan. 2026
Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026
Tortoise, Touch Touch, the first full-length by venerable Chicago post-rock outfit Tortoise since 2016’s The Catastrophist, catches the quintet pushing past the most bucolic stretches of the previous release.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Robert Lea, Space.com, 23 Jan. 2026
When the sun is just skimming across the horizon and ducking behind other peaks, all the heat that the sun baked into the snow and rocks during the day evaporates—fast.
—Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 23 Dec. 2025
This duo features a full-size and a mini, travel-friendly bottle of the brand’s most popular EDP, which rocks notes of fresh orange blossom, sugary vanilla, and delectable marshmallow.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rock
Noun
There’s an urgency to the pacing of the pop-rock track that makes the stakes feel higher here.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 8 Jan. 2026
Headquarters is a great little rock-and-roll album.
—Devon Ivie, Vulture, 8 Jan. 2026
Verb
Sheletta Brundidge ran from her car to give Noir a big, rocking embrace.
—Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 24 Jan. 2026
While crews were investigating, an explosion rocked the 15th and 16th floors, setting off multiple fires and briefly trapping firefighters in an elevator.
—Mark Prussin, CBS News, 24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
The slow, majestic build of post-rock epics that hold back their climax for maximum transcendence.
—Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 7 Jan. 2026
Tortoise, Touch Touch, the first full-length by venerable Chicago post-rock outfit Tortoise since 2016’s The Catastrophist, catches the quintet pushing past the most bucolic stretches of the previous release.
—Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 2 Dec. 2025
Noun
The team suggests that this cloud may have been created when two planets orbiting J0705+0612 slammed into each other, spraying out dust, rocks, and other debris.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 23 Jan. 2026
When the sun is just skimming across the horizon and ducking behind other peaks, all the heat that the sun baked into the snow and rocks during the day evaporates—fast.
—Outside, 23 Jan. 2026
Verb
The world’s biggest advertising agency, Omnicom, bought its rival, IPG, as AI rocks the industry that basically invented it.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 23 Dec. 2025
This duo features a full-size and a mini, travel-friendly bottle of the brand’s most popular EDP, which rocks notes of fresh orange blossom, sugary vanilla, and delectable marshmallow.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 14 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for rock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rock
Adjective
-
Still, Naz, whose solitary ways confuse his family, very much wishes that Aziza wasn’t meeting his adamantine mother, Claudine (LaTanya Richardson Jackson), or his famous father, or his ex-state-senator older brother, Junior (Glenn Davis), recently incarcerated for embezzling campaign funds.—
Helen Shaw,
The New Yorker,
20 Mar. 2025
-
Image My first collision with the adamantine wall of Vivamayr house rules coincided with my arrival.—
Caity Weaver,
New York Times,
25 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Subsequent questions from the board focused largely on what investigators described as a history of compressed scheduling, the lack of options to offload some aircrafts and a complex workload for controllers.—
Adam Carlson,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Filmmakers are now using the same tools to handle storyboarding, character design, shot generation, sound, and even post-production, often within a single, compressed workflow.—
Paul Ratner,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Yet these shady financing deals can leave survivors owing substantial fees and interest, sometimes consuming a significant portion of any eventual award.—
Jaime Huff,
Oc Register,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Throughout the show – which launched with a DJ set by longtime Carey friend and producer Jermaine Dupri – Carey’s admirers dug into her substantial catalog with gusto.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The condensed schedule the Panthers face the rest of the way due to the Olympic break in February works in Tarasov’s favor to get more playing time.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
26 Jan. 2026
-
On the pea side, Campbell’s appears to be the only brand that used to sell condensed pea soup.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Nouvelle Vague earned additional noms for sound, cinematography, editing, costume and production design and visual effects.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Based on Wednesday's results, Niccol's argument remains sound.—
Kevin Stankiewicz,Jeff Marks,
CNBC,
28 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Rock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rock. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
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