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
Alba rocked one of her favorite bikinis—a playful boho paisley and animal print number in deep shades of red and orange.
—
Meg Walters, InStyle, 17 Feb. 2026
Monday’s shooting came nearly two months after Rhode Island was rocked by a shooting at Brown University that left two students dead and wounded nine others, as well as a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor.
—Kimberlee Kruesi, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
The potential for these agents to replace the work of software as a service companies, amongst others, has rocked markets.
—Dylan Butts, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026
This isn’t the first time Beyoncé has rocked a bob.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 16 Feb. 2026
At the same time, some are dubious of the fears that have rocked the market over the past few weeks.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 16 Feb. 2026
Monday’s shooting comes nearly two months after Rhode Island was rocked by a separate gun violence tragedy at Brown University, where a gunman killed two students and wounded nine others.
—Kimberlee Kruesi, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent grocery store closures have rocked the north side of Milwaukee, where growing food deserts – areas where quality food is difficult to find – have left entire neighborhoods without ready access to food.
—Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Both dramas from Asia offer a panorama of a family rocked by unexpected circumstances and grappling with the mundane realities of an economic life mismatched to their goals.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Feb. 2026
Meg Walters, InStyle, 17 Feb. 2026
Monday’s shooting came nearly two months after Rhode Island was rocked by a shooting at Brown University that left two students dead and wounded nine others, as well as a Massachusetts Institute of Technology professor.
—Kimberlee Kruesi, Los Angeles Times, 17 Feb. 2026
The potential for these agents to replace the work of software as a service companies, amongst others, has rocked markets.
—Dylan Butts, CNBC, 17 Feb. 2026
This isn’t the first time Beyoncé has rocked a bob.
—Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 16 Feb. 2026
At the same time, some are dubious of the fears that have rocked the market over the past few weeks.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 16 Feb. 2026
Monday’s shooting comes nearly two months after Rhode Island was rocked by a separate gun violence tragedy at Brown University, where a gunman killed two students and wounded nine others.
—Kimberlee Kruesi, Chicago Tribune, 16 Feb. 2026
Recent grocery store closures have rocked the north side of Milwaukee, where growing food deserts – areas where quality food is difficult to find – have left entire neighborhoods without ready access to food.
—Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 10 Feb. 2026
Both dramas from Asia offer a panorama of a family rocked by unexpected circumstances and grappling with the mundane realities of an economic life mismatched to their goals.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rocked
Verb
-
The big polar bear lurched forward, hitting top speed in two strides.—
Scott Haugen,
Outdoor Life,
4 Feb. 2026
-
As Matt Woosnam reflected recently, the Premier League’s feel-good story has lurched into night terrors.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
3 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Mizzou was successful early but faltered late before hanging on.—
Joseph Pastilha,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
-
For all of her dominance across Alpine skiing, in recent years Shiffrin had faltered on the sport’s biggest stage.—
The Sports Desk,
NBC news,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In September, parishioners were stunned when the archdiocese announced that Storey had resigned amid a criminal investigation by the Prairie Village Police Department.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The killings stunned Austin and became one of the city’s most notorious unsolved cases.—
Julianna Duennes Russ,
Austin American Statesman,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
What teams surprised the most in the first week of the playoffs?—
Dan Albano,
Oc Register,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Hockey is the top Winter Games sport among gamblers, but curling with its sliding stones, spirited sweeping and cheating allegations has surprised oddsmakers.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
But the technology giant has shown in recent months that it can be swayed.—
semafor.com,
semafor.com,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Not swayed by the team’s second-half surge, Moorad fired him in October with the Padres at 74-85.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Knight shook her head and reiterated that this was indeed her final Olympic game.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Their deaths shook this state and the nation.—
Kenety S. Gee,
Twin Cities,
18 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
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
-
What amazed me the most was the remains of what appeared to be a tall conifer — possibly a cypress or cedar — on Edgar Street in Pacific Palisades, where the Palisades fire ravaged an entire street.—
Jeanette Marantos,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
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The universe amazed me yet again.—
Daisy Dobrijevic,
Space.com,
17 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rocked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rocked. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.
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