1
as in swaying
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions
the boat was rocking so much that several passengers felt seasick
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in wobbling
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 stunning
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 amazing
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rocking
Verb
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More momentum-swaying sequences occurred in the second quarter.—
Alec Lewis,
The Athletic,
6 Jan. 2025 -
Sandy shores, a deep blue ocean, swaying palm trees?—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
30 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
Symptoms like a fast heart rate, or shortness of breath, shaking and chills, confusion or lethargy.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
24 Dec. 2024
-
Your ruler Mercury will also station retrograde in Sagittarius—your seventh house of partnerships—on November 9, revealing all the ways your desires for independence may be shaking things up with up your closest allies and enemies.—
Roya Backlund,
StyleCaster,
23 Dec. 2024
Verb
-
The resort is in a zone of rolling hills—the Barrocal, filled with fig, olive and cork trees—surrounded by small villages that preserve a slow and traditional way of life, and close to a regional hub of creativity and culture.—
Ann Abel,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
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Located in one of France's most picturesque areas, the land of 1,000 castles, each of these unique properties is surrounded by stunning landscape from lush vineyards and rolling fields to quaint villages.—
Joanne Shurvell,
Forbes,
6 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Fox News Digital obtained shocking audio between Cyrus and his estranged wife where the country crooner is heard berating his Australian ex and using profane language.—
Ashley Hume,
Fox News,
26 Dec. 2024
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Jung-bae wound up in a room of three, with Player 001 and some rando — but Player 001 choked the stranger to death in time to reduce their head count, shocking Jung-bae more than a bit.—
Matt Webb Mitovich,
TVLine,
26 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Not literal strings, of course—but tiny loops or snippets of vibrating energy.—
Tom Siegfried,
JSTOR Daily,
19 Dec. 2024
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Because everything is moving, everything vibrating in one great dance that is the act of becoming.—
Jennifer Harlan,
New York Times,
13 Dec. 2024
Noun
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This pulse can trigger a process known as electromagnetic dissociation, in which a photon interacts with a nucleus, inducing internal oscillations that eject neutrons and photons.—
Victoria Corless,
Space.com,
13 May 2025
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The Watch 3 also offers detailed running form analytics, including cadence, ground contact balance, ground contact time, power, and vertical oscillation.—
PCMAG,
PCMAG,
18 Feb. 2025
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Cite this Entry
“Rocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rocking. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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