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
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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
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Recent Examples of rocking
Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 31 Aug. 2025
Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2025
North's friend played the role of Usher, rocking an all-white outfit adorned with a single white glove — just like the musician wore — and lip-syncing into a microphone.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
The biopic cost $55 million, and since theater owners keep roughly half of the ticket sales, the film needs to keep rocking at the box office to justify its price tag.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 Oct. 2025
The parched air, the strange sounds, the relentless wind rocking the trailer like a mechanical bull.
—Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Mind you, the entire time, the DJ had the house rocking!
—Essence, 24 Oct. 2025
This slick family film tells the story of Count Dracula (Adam Sandler), a vamp who just wants to throw a rocking house party.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
The Vikings, coming off a bye, will keep rocking with Carson Wentz (in a revenge game opportunitythis week).
—Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The Ralph was just rocking tonight.
—Brad Elliott Schlossman, Twin Cities, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
The rest of the quintet — vocalist Dexter Holland, bassist Todd Morse, multi-instrumentalist Jonah Nimoy and drummer Brandon Pertzborn — then joined in for a rocking (yet, sadly, abbreviated) take on that same album’s legendary title track.
—Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 31 Aug. 2025
Noun
While Kevin started out pop rocking with his younger brothers Nick and Joe in 2005, the group’s members began to venture out by 2011, with Joe releasing his debut solo album, Fastlife, and Nick hitting the road with his side project, Nick Jonas & the Administration, that year.
—Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 27 Oct. 2025
North's friend played the role of Usher, rocking an all-white outfit adorned with a single white glove — just like the musician wore — and lip-syncing into a microphone.
—Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 26 Oct. 2025
The biopic cost $55 million, and since theater owners keep roughly half of the ticket sales, the film needs to keep rocking at the box office to justify its price tag.
—Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 26 Oct. 2025
The parched air, the strange sounds, the relentless wind rocking the trailer like a mechanical bull.
—Rowan Jacobsen, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 2025
Mind you, the entire time, the DJ had the house rocking!
—Essence, 24 Oct. 2025
This slick family film tells the story of Count Dracula (Adam Sandler), a vamp who just wants to throw a rocking house party.
—Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
The Vikings, coming off a bye, will keep rocking with Carson Wentz (in a revenge game opportunitythis week).
—Alex Kirshner, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
The Ralph was just rocking tonight.
—Brad Elliott Schlossman, Twin Cities, 18 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rocking
Verb
-
Quarterback Mahomes was seen standing mostly still, swaying a bit with his hands behind his back during the anthem.—
Natasha Dye,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
-
In 2023, House Republicans held hearings on the companies' roles in swaying votes around environmental, social and governance investing.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Trips to Nottingham Forest and Tottenham Hotspur will be challenging, but the team are getting better at wobbling without falling over.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
26 Oct. 2025
-
An internal compression pad and multiple pockets help maximize packing space in this lightweight spinner, which is crafted from water-repellent nylon and boasts a proprietary stabilizer to prevent wobbling.—
Sophie Dodd,
Travel + Leisure,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The mood is lurching between calm and doom-mongering chaos.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
-
The administration’s lurching one way and another with tariffs is another example.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
While shaking hands and chatting with members of the public, one person shouted questions regarding Prince Andrew as the monarch came near.—
Stephanie Petit,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Though slower, S waves and surface waves cause the most damage due to their intense ground-shaking motion.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Lost in the trembling of my own body, trembling like Bunny’s body.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Sep. 2025
-
Olsen plays Joan’s indecision with winsome fluster, at first breathy and trembling but eventually finding her resolve.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
8 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The back porch, complete with an outdoor tub, looked out onto rolling hills without a soul in sight, while inside featured a stunning bouquet of wildflowers, fresh-baked sourdough with butter, cheese and jam and — my favorite part — a jar of chocolate chip cookies.—
Rachel DeSantis,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
-
Ballad of a Small Player is only modestly entertaining, its allure as false as the neon promise of the high-rolling city it’s set in.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That reinforced the idea that inflation concerns should take a backseat to worries about faltering job growth.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
29 Oct. 2025
-
After faltering in the semifinals of the 2024 WNBA playoffs, Wilson and the Aces capped off a dominant postseason run Friday by sweeping the Phoenix Mercury with a 97-86 win.—
Riley Jones,
Footwear News,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Going Solo, surprising his daughters and fans Of course, the girls are the Jonas Brothers and Kevin’s biggest fans.—
Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal,
Parents,
9 Oct. 2025
-
Fallon ended the chat by surprising the trio with the presentation of the platinum plaque for the movie’s soundtrack.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
8 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rocking. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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