1
as in lurched
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions
the boat was rocking so much that several passengers felt seasick
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in faltered
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 stunned
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 surprised
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
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Recent Examples of rocked
The fallout continues from the aggressive tactics of federal agents in Minnesota, with bipartisan calls for accountability after the state was rocked by two fatal shootings this month.
—
Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
So while the market will pay close attention to interest rate developments and indications, much of the scrutiny will go toward the ancillary events that have rocked the central bank.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
The shooting death of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol rocked Minnesota and the world, including at Angry Catfish bike shop in Minneapolis' Standish neighborhood, where Pretti was a customer and member of the local cycling community.
—Jason Rantala, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
After nearly a year and a half without a permanent leader as pro-Palestinian protests and extraordinary federal scrutiny rocked its campus, Columbia University on Sunday tapped Jennifer Mnookin, the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as its next president.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
The timeless style was the third time Princess Charlotte rocked the look in four weeks.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
Pharrell has rocked many Richard Mille timepieces, including an RM UP-01 Ferrari and an RM 74-02.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Jan. 2026
There, the two rocked wonderfully funky outfits, with Rihanna wearing a knee-length black silk skirt along with two-toned brown suede and black knee-high heeled Loewe boots.
—Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 20 Jan. 2026
The scale of the fraud in Minnesota dwarfs the roughly $100 million welfare scandal that rocked Mississippi from 2016 to 2019, embroiling former NFL quarterback Brett Favre in a civil lawsuit and sullying the state’s reputation for oversight.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 20 Jan. 2026
Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 27 Jan. 2026
So while the market will pay close attention to interest rate developments and indications, much of the scrutiny will go toward the ancillary events that have rocked the central bank.
—Jeff Cox, CNBC, 27 Jan. 2026
The shooting death of Alex Pretti by Border Patrol rocked Minnesota and the world, including at Angry Catfish bike shop in Minneapolis' Standish neighborhood, where Pretti was a customer and member of the local cycling community.
—Jason Rantala, CBS News, 27 Jan. 2026
After nearly a year and a half without a permanent leader as pro-Palestinian protests and extraordinary federal scrutiny rocked its campus, Columbia University on Sunday tapped Jennifer Mnookin, the chancellor of the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as its next president.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 26 Jan. 2026
The timeless style was the third time Princess Charlotte rocked the look in four weeks.
—Janine Henni, PEOPLE, 26 Jan. 2026
Pharrell has rocked many Richard Mille timepieces, including an RM UP-01 Ferrari and an RM 74-02.
—Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 24 Jan. 2026
There, the two rocked wonderfully funky outfits, with Rihanna wearing a knee-length black silk skirt along with two-toned brown suede and black knee-high heeled Loewe boots.
—Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 20 Jan. 2026
The scale of the fraud in Minnesota dwarfs the roughly $100 million welfare scandal that rocked Mississippi from 2016 to 2019, embroiling former NFL quarterback Brett Favre in a civil lawsuit and sullying the state’s reputation for oversight.
—The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 20 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rocked
Verb
-
The entire tech industry lurched into motion.—
MacKenzie Sigalos,
CNBC,
10 Jan. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
A certain perception of Arsenal’s mental frailties persists, as if this is not just the same team that faltered in the final stages in 2022-23 but the same one that habitually cracked under pressure in the later years of Wenger’s tenure.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
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David McNair, executive director of ONE Data, told Semafor the drop in lending reflected a period in which China’s economy faltered and its priorities shifted.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The football world was stunned on Tuesday night when it was initially reported that eight-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick was not voted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Commenters flooded in with disbelief, memes and theories, stunned by the odds of six matching vehicles ending up in the same crash.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
What surprised him most was how often that same feeling appears in everyday life.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Jan. 2026
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However, JonHi, 16, and Rinny, 18, both died within a short period, leaving zoo staff surprised and concerned.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The poll, sponsored by the Union-Tribune and 10News, found that only a relatively small portion of residents were swayed by arguments from the mayor and council that revenue from the fees is needed to avoid budget cuts.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
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Millennials, resolute in their fatigue, are less swayed by surface-level marketing and more attuned to what actually makes work sustainable.—
Jasmine Browley,
Forbes.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This should have people across the country absolutely shook.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Jan. 2026
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The birth of Endeavor startled Hollywood, but Endeavor’s subsequent takeover of powerhouse William Morris shook the town to its core.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Eleven, the show’s telekinetic heroine, who grew up in a lab, became dazed by the number of clothing options at the Gap.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
26 Dec. 2025
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Firefighters were trying to put out flames, others were trying to find victims inside, Sanford's truck was still there and church members who'd just survived the horror were on the lawn, dazed.—
Georgea Kovanis,
Freep.com,
5 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The universe amazed me yet again.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
17 Nov. 2025
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In 1905, German zoologist Gustav Tornier described a live-bearing toad from Tanzania that amazed scientists of his time.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rocked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rocked. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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