rocked

past tense of rock
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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

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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 rocked The Strokes rocked Saturday Night Live with two new songs and a surprise appearance by Walton Goggins. — Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 8 Nov. 2026 Explosions rocked the city as Russia fired multiple waves of ballistic missiles, several of which hit and damaged the Northern Bridge across the Dnipro River, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. — Reuters, NBC news, 7 Nov. 2026 Himelright doesn't know the Coates family personally, but says this situation has rocked the entire community. — Ashley Paul, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026 The industry is pressured by competitiveness, while Made in Italy seems no longer a byword for responsibility, as labor abuse cases have rocked the industry and shaken its reputation. — Martino Carrera, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2026 The 78-0 vote marked a stunning repudiation of Peña by lawmakers from his long-ruling Colorado Party, who joined the opposition in backing his impeachment after three days of demonstrations rocked the capital, Asunción. — Isabel Debre, Los Angeles Times, 5 Nov. 2026 Take Zendaya, who rocked a vintage $35 Spider-Man T-shirt earlier this year while promoting her latest installment in the franchise. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 5 Nov. 2026 In Newark, Delaware, a shooting on Saturday night rocked the University of Delaware. — Eric MacK , Alexandra Koch, FOXNews.com, 1 Nov. 2026 Poseck said he was determined the violence that has rocked France would not be replicated in Germany. — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rocked
Verb
  • The insurrection drew immediate and obvious parallels to the United States, which, during much of the past decade, has lurched alongside Brazil through a strange hall of mirrors.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
  • And there was a frenzy as one man, grimacing and sweating, lurched along pulling a truck with a rope.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Despite the offensive inconsistencies, Harbaugh said the team’s motivation and determination haven’t faltered one bit.
    — Gabriel Duarte, Oc Register, 7 Nov. 2026
  • When that reboot faltered, climaxing in a nightmarish season-14 finale, RHONY got another, softer reboot in the form of all but three cast members being fired.
    — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Three years ago, South Florida was stunned by a rainfall event so extreme it was classified as a 1-in-1,000-year occurrence.
    — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Lockwood initially bought the property secretly through a mystery corporation, Lake Osceola Holdings LLC, and the later revelation of the transaction stunned those who’ve been working for many months to save the house from demolition.
    — Brian Bell, The Orlando Sentinel, 10 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • More than the incredible sights, what surprised him most about his visit to the Washington state national park was that little noise penetrated from beyond the verdant canopies.
    — Shy Clara Thompson, Pitchfork, 14 Nov. 2026
  • Even some of Google's longtime partners are surprised by the company's current position, including superintendent Hank Thiele in Illinois.
    — Sequoia Carrillo, NPR, 13 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Filter galleries by Norwood stage and hair type rather than being swayed by the most dramatic transformation on the page.
    — Burak Onal, Miami Herald, 10 Nov. 2026
  • But as Riemenschneider grew into a larger frame in middle school, football coaches took notice and swayed him to try the sport.
    — Shaun Chornobroff, Austin American Statesman, 5 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Nvidia’s stock already took a beating from a wider reversal in chip stocks as US voters’ protests against data centers shook confidence in the market’s AI trade.
    — Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 9 Nov. 2026
  • Nacua shook off a couple of drops to make big plays, especially on critical fourth downs and on a seven-yard touchdown catch early in the fourth quarter.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 8 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • And they were dazed when JJ Buchanan came down with Bryce Underwood's second Hail Mary pass to turn the four-touchdown-underdog Broncos' 12-7 upset into a 13-12 loss.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Despite looking dazed, Guerrero scampered home to tie the game at 1-1.
    — Ryan Canfield, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • The 2026 guide has 29 new gems; that number includes a few places that had formerly dropped off the list but now return, having amazed us once again.
    — Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Larry remarks, amazed all these years later by this odd before-they-were-stars encounter.
    — Blake J. Harris, Vulture, 12 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rocked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rocked. Accessed 14 Nov. 2026.

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