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 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
  • 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
  • Initially, local and state leaders considered a relocation plan for some homes and businesses that would get people out of harm’s way, but the project faltered.
    — Cengiz Yar, ProPublica, 3 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • If the Scots get stunned by Smith and Richland can defeat Carrollton Turner, then Highland Park and Richland will be co-champions with Highland Park taking the first seed and Richland the second.
    — Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Nov. 2026
  • His rare death resulting from an impact in a game has stunned the world of soccer.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • The companies that understand their customers best in 2030 will be the ones most willing to be surprised by them.
    — Kate O'Keeffe, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026
  • But Soto, 48, appeared to prevail this week, a feat that likely surprised Republican leaders and some political analysts.
    — Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • At Hill Street bar, close to the downtown criminal courthouse where McKinney has built his career, supporters swayed to smooth jazz and Top 40 radio hits, nursing cocktails and betraying no reaction to the dismal early returns.
    — Sonja Sharp, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2026
  • In his campaign, Piper highlighted affordability and the need for county government to be less swayed by the political donations incumbents receive from the lobbyists, vendors and developers that populate Miami-Dade’s donor circuit.
    — Douglas Hanks, Miami Herald, 4 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rocked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rocked. Accessed 12 Nov. 2026.

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