rocked

past tense of rock
1
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
4

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 Rabbitt reflected on how the killings have rocked the town, which is located roughly 18 miles north of Albany. Matt Foster, ABC News, 4 Aug. 2026 This year’s Tour de France Femmes has been rocked by allegations that some riders are artificially exaggerating their bust size to gain an aerodynamic advantage. The Week Uk, TheWeek, 4 Aug. 2026 All-Star left-hander Justin Wrobleski was rocked for seven runs and four home runs over 4⅓ innings. Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 4 Aug. 2026 Damon looked dapper in a burgundy suit while Luciana rocked a royal blue gown. Leigh Blickley, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Aug. 2026 Hicks said investigators were still working to determine a potential motive for the mass shooting, which rocked the small city in Idaho's Magic Valley. N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 3 Aug. 2026 The breach rocked sentiment on Crypto Twitter, with influencers and company executives commenting on its implications. Camila Grigera Naón, Fortune, 3 Aug. 2026 In the photo, the two women rode horses, while Kidman rocked her natural curls in a low ponytail. Meg Walters, InStyle, 3 Aug. 2026 That said, the latest cuts are not expected to be as sweeping as those that rocked the company in 2023, when dozens of employees—including 20 on-air hosts and analysts (Suzy Kolber, Jeff Van Gundy, Jalen Rose, et al)—were let go. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 21 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rocked
Verb
  • Markets have lurched up and down as oil prices shot higher because of the war with Iran.
    ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • His car lurched forward with Miller’s arm still reaching through the window, briefly dragging the cop down the street.
    Guthrie Scrimgeour, Rolling Stone, 2 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Billionaire Michael Saylor’s Strategy offloaded bitcoin last week in a move that raised over $100 million, as the cryptocurrency has faltered in the months since reaching an all-time high last October.
    Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • At the same time, an already untenable diplomatic effort to end the war has faltered once again as mistrust deepens between the longtime adversaries.
    ABC News, ABC News, 29 July 2026
Verb
  • He was surrounded by family, twelve sets of hands holding his lifeless body, sending him onward with heartache and love and stunned disbelief.
    Dr. Lucy McBride, Time, 8 Aug. 2026
  • Around them stood reminders of the 33-year-old woman whose death in a shooting last weekend stunned people across Kansas City.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Her decision to campaign publicly for Chan surprised some observers, given Wiener’s years of legislative experience and prominence in California Democratic politics.
    Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 1 Aug. 2026
  • To mark the occasion, Billy Corgan surprised the massive Chicago crowd by bringing out special guests Olivia Rodrigo and Yungblud.
    Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 1 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Hosts from Joe Rogan to Alex Cooper have weighed in on—and perhaps have even swayed—elections.
    Alexandra York, Forbes.com, 7 Aug. 2026
  • Either way, there’s a lot on the line for Dodge, as millions of enthusiasts’ opinions about the Charger will be swayed one way or another by the end of it.
    Caleb Jacobs, The Drive, 30 July 2026
Verb
  • Howard shook off a shooting slump to pour in a game-high 23 points on 5-of-9 shooting from three.
    Christopher Harris, CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • In Damascus, over the course of a single week in July, two bombings shook the city.
    Lina Sergie Attar, Time, 6 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Fatu was dazed and Reigns speared him through the table.
    Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026
  • When the Knicks won, Berns was dazed.
    Amanda Petrusich, New Yorker, 21 May 2026
Verb
  • Just before halftime, van Persie slipped past the Spanish defensive line to receive a long-range pass from teammate Daley Blind and looped the ball over Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas with a first-time diving header that amazed the audience.
    Tushaar Kuthiala, Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 July 2026
  • When Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated the telephone at America’s Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876, the invention amazed the crowd.
    David H. Hsu, Fortune, 11 May 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rocked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rocked. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on rocked

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster