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
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
24 June 2026
What looks like an aesthetic rocking chair is actually an anti-gravity chair, to help with spinal decompression.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 June 2026
While Kesteloo is used to traveling at sea, the rocking and swaying of the boat might affect you differently.
—
Alyssa Grabinski,
PEOPLE,
23 June 2026
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
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
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2026
Just remember the most important part when rocking a bowl cut is the attitude.
—
Genesis Rivas,
InStyle,
1 July 2026
The carousel also included clips of her rocking the skin-baring two-piece then and now.
—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
1 July 2026
On Tuesday night, the hallowed ground was rocking once again.
—
Felipe Cardenas,
New York Times,
1 July 2026
Woody’s daughter Nora Guthrie, who has spent many years shepherding her father’s musical legacy, was rocking a cowbell and getting into the spirit.
—
Simon Vozick-Levinson,
Rolling Stone,
29 June 2026
The emphasis is on fun and teamwork, rather than unleashing some sort of psycho Woody Hayes trip on a bunch of kids who are still rocking footy pajamas.
—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
26 June 2026
But other than Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale rocking up as the opposition center forward, this cinematic retelling lacks such unpredictability.
—
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
26 June 2026
The hard-rocking Appetite for Destruction was a stone-cold smash, albeit an initially slow-burning one.
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
26 June 2026
Noun
Ditch the plastic iterations for a sculptural rattan rocking horse that doubles as nursery decor when not in use.
—
Kate McGregor,
Architectural Digest,
24 June 2026
What looks like an aesthetic rocking chair is actually an anti-gravity chair, to help with spinal decompression.
—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 June 2026
While Kesteloo is used to traveling at sea, the rocking and swaying of the boat might affect you differently.
—
Alyssa Grabinski,
PEOPLE,
23 June 2026
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
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
Verb
The country’s massive celebrations have made international headlines, with videos of exuberant fans rocking cars and even buses going viral.
—
Kate Linthicum,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2026
Just remember the most important part when rocking a bowl cut is the attitude.
—
Genesis Rivas,
InStyle,
1 July 2026
The carousel also included clips of her rocking the skin-baring two-piece then and now.
—
Michelle Lee,
PEOPLE,
1 July 2026
On Tuesday night, the hallowed ground was rocking once again.
—
Felipe Cardenas,
New York Times,
1 July 2026
Woody’s daughter Nora Guthrie, who has spent many years shepherding her father’s musical legacy, was rocking a cowbell and getting into the spirit.
—
Simon Vozick-Levinson,
Rolling Stone,
29 June 2026
The emphasis is on fun and teamwork, rather than unleashing some sort of psycho Woody Hayes trip on a bunch of kids who are still rocking footy pajamas.
—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
26 June 2026
But other than Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale rocking up as the opposition center forward, this cinematic retelling lacks such unpredictability.
—
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
26 June 2026
The hard-rocking Appetite for Destruction was a stone-cold smash, albeit an initially slow-burning one.
—
Greg Evans,
Deadline,
26 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rocking
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.
-
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.
Verb
-
The movie is an apex of film noir, filled with dark shadows, moody lighting and ominous swaying palm trees.
-
In her two-story home, lamps and other objects began swaying violently.
Verb
-
Chris Jung | Nurphoto | Getty Images Shares of Nvidia have been faltering recently — and Kalshi traders predict that what the company can charge for chips is also declining.
-
After faltering in last year’s Div.
Verb
-
Margaret deploys this power to find Daniel and to free him from Noah and the WARDEX minions—essentially, by stunning them emotionally.
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.
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.
-
The old dog slowed to a stop, nose full of bird stink, feathery tail quivering.
Verb
-
The old guard of the Democratic Party suffered another body blow when three socialist congressional candidates in New York with anti-Israel platforms swept to victory, lurching the party even further to the left.
-
Taking the ride with Lazy Horse means embracing that chaos, lurching from song to song.
Verb
-
This tournament has built credibility by showcasing teams competing at a high level, then shaking hands afterward.
-
An earth-shaking roar The World Cup finally arrived in Kansas City after several years of preparation and anticipation.
Cite this Entry
“Rocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rocking. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
