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 faltering
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
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 rocking
Marc Masters, Pitchfork, 24 Apr. 2026
There are some traditional pieces that set a framework for the exhibition — functional objects, like a rustic rocking chair made from logs hewn from pine and aspen by Jon Weekly, who owns Medicine Wolf Furniture, headquartered in Denver.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 20 Apr. 2026
While Kesteloo is used to traveling at sea, the rocking and swaying of the boat might affect you differently.
—Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
Then, noticing changes in the wind and the rocking of the boat, an uneasiness crept over the veteran seaman.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
Then there’s the literal rocking of docks and fishing boats, which causes disputes between different lake users.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2026
Keeping with the Marlow collection’s outdoor rocking chair theme is this set of two chairs.
—Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2026
Expect leather benches, custom drapery, rattan rocking chairs, and oversize armoires that discreetly conceal the tile-and-marble bathrooms with soaking tubs and bamboo shades.
—AFAR Media, 30 Dec. 2025
There is only Kyle and her porch and her chair and the rocking, the rocking, the rocking, the rocking.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Matthew Carey, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026
Tales From ’85 indicates very little interest in rocking the Stranger Things boat, narratively or tonally or any other-ly.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Harper, 14, like the former Spice Girls member, has been rocking a bright blonde hair color since what appears to be last spring and has continued to style her hair in long tresses.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Harry Styles and Zoë Kravitz are sparking engagement rumors, with the actress-director spotted multiple times rocking a massive diamond on her left ring finger.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
In the footage shown at CinemaCon, Cruise is seen sporting gray hair and a potbelly, while rocking a Southern accent.
—Saba Hamedy, NBC news, 17 Apr. 2026
Adventist Health Arena was rocking as the anticipation for a Game 3 lingered.
—Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
Carpenter saved one of her boldest statements for the final stretch, rocking a sizzling, see-through black lace bodysuit that left little to the imagination.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Roll out dough, rocking the pin to help maintain an even thickness and rotating the dough as needed, into a 1/8-inch-thick circle about 12 inches in diameter.
—Emily Teel, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Apr. 2026
Noun
Alan Bishop’s latest album seems at first like a showcase of his music at its most rocking.
—Marc Masters, Pitchfork, 24 Apr. 2026
There are some traditional pieces that set a framework for the exhibition — functional objects, like a rustic rocking chair made from logs hewn from pine and aspen by Jon Weekly, who owns Medicine Wolf Furniture, headquartered in Denver.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 20 Apr. 2026
While Kesteloo is used to traveling at sea, the rocking and swaying of the boat might affect you differently.
—Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
Then, noticing changes in the wind and the rocking of the boat, an uneasiness crept over the veteran seaman.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
Then there’s the literal rocking of docks and fishing boats, which causes disputes between different lake users.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2026
Keeping with the Marlow collection’s outdoor rocking chair theme is this set of two chairs.
—Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2026
Expect leather benches, custom drapery, rattan rocking chairs, and oversize armoires that discreetly conceal the tile-and-marble bathrooms with soaking tubs and bamboo shades.
—AFAR Media, 30 Dec. 2025
There is only Kyle and her porch and her chair and the rocking, the rocking, the rocking, the rocking.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Verb
Cinemas nationwide will soon be rocking to the story of one of music’s greatest talents.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026
Tales From ’85 indicates very little interest in rocking the Stranger Things boat, narratively or tonally or any other-ly.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Harper, 14, like the former Spice Girls member, has been rocking a bright blonde hair color since what appears to be last spring and has continued to style her hair in long tresses.
—Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 22 Apr. 2026
Harry Styles and Zoë Kravitz are sparking engagement rumors, with the actress-director spotted multiple times rocking a massive diamond on her left ring finger.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
In the footage shown at CinemaCon, Cruise is seen sporting gray hair and a potbelly, while rocking a Southern accent.
—Saba Hamedy, NBC news, 17 Apr. 2026
Adventist Health Arena was rocking as the anticipation for a Game 3 lingered.
—Carmela Karcher, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026
Carpenter saved one of her boldest statements for the final stretch, rocking a sizzling, see-through black lace bodysuit that left little to the imagination.
—Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 11 Apr. 2026
Roll out dough, rocking the pin to help maintain an even thickness and rotating the dough as needed, into a 1/8-inch-thick circle about 12 inches in diameter.
—Emily Teel, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rocking
Verb
-
The Jewish community responds With the meme aimed at swaying Jewish voters, in rotation, Howard Libit, the Executive Director of the Baltimore Jewish Council, says political races should be won fair and square.—
Bryant Reed,
CBS News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Instructor Jules led a beginner-friendly samba routine that included arm movements, swaying hips and traveling steps.—
Tamara Dunn,
Denver Post,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The figures reinforce the extent to which consumer demand is faltering only two years after Tesla began delivering the electric pickup.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
-
After faltering in the crucial moments of its first postseason telecast, the stakes have now been raised for upcoming presentations.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In one camp Gao Sheng breaks a cultural norm by helping her father and uncles with a big project, amazing her relatives with her physical and mental strength.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
All the trembling, as Kimbangu touched the sick, alarmed European settlers and reassured the plantation workers who trekked to Nkamba in search of healing.—
Rodney Muhumuza,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
At first this change of scale vivifies the butterfly—its brief stillness, the angle of its wings, its trembling—while freezing everything else, including the novel’s action.—
Ben Lerner,
The New York Review of Books,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Another neighbor recalled an elevator lurching between floors.—
Elle McLogan,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Meanwhile the Caliente Range — those mountains just to the west — are lurching the opposite way.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
On Thursday night, after shaking off a deal that was short-circuited by another team, the Ravens would make a pick (Penn State guard Vega Ioane) that symbolically spoke to the franchise’s core values.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Backstage, everyone was crying and shaking, Pearlman says.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Fairview came out throwing haymakers, dazing the Bruins in the early going.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
23 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The horror has come now like a storm— what if this night prefigured the night after death— what if all thereafter was an eternal quivering on the edge of an abyss, with everything base and vicious in oneself urging one forward and the baseness and viciousness of the world just ahead.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The old dog slowed to a stop, nose full of bird stink, feathery tail quivering.—
Joel M. Vance,
Outdoor Life,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rocking. Accessed 27 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
