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
Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
Drake has been spotted rocking traditional German drip.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
At the stick in the cockpit’s left seat is Randy Oates, a Helitack pilot rocking a ZZ Top beard in a flight helmet and Nomex coveralls.
—Ted Katauskas, Outside, 23 Sep. 2025
Even in 2025, new Jeffrey Epstein reports are still rocking the British royal family.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 23 Sep. 2025
Torrey Pines’ varsity team rides a van to matches with the effervescent Jiamanukoonkit controlling the music selections, rocking to her favorite artist, Olivia Rodrigo.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2025
On September 21, the 39-year-old actor that famously played Blair Waldorf posted an Instagram video rocking the piecey gold highlights that captivated teens throughout the mid-aughts.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 21 Sep. 2025
Unmissable Lu’u Dan looks were on full display, with founder and creative director Hung La rocking a killer floor-length leather trench.
—Alex Catarinella, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
For their final time together on the set of the miniseries, Bateman and a freshly blonde-wigged Law kissed production goodbye in hard-rocking style.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Sep. 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
Rinna appears not once, not twice, but thrice on the cover, rocking a blue mini dress paired with bright red gloves and tights.
—Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 24 Sep. 2025
Drake has been spotted rocking traditional German drip.
—Taylor Ardrey, USA Today, 24 Sep. 2025
At the stick in the cockpit’s left seat is Randy Oates, a Helitack pilot rocking a ZZ Top beard in a flight helmet and Nomex coveralls.
—Ted Katauskas, Outside, 23 Sep. 2025
Even in 2025, new Jeffrey Epstein reports are still rocking the British royal family.
—Lizzie Lanuza, StyleCaster, 23 Sep. 2025
Torrey Pines’ varsity team rides a van to matches with the effervescent Jiamanukoonkit controlling the music selections, rocking to her favorite artist, Olivia Rodrigo.
—Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2025
On September 21, the 39-year-old actor that famously played Blair Waldorf posted an Instagram video rocking the piecey gold highlights that captivated teens throughout the mid-aughts.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 21 Sep. 2025
Unmissable Lu’u Dan looks were on full display, with founder and creative director Hung La rocking a killer floor-length leather trench.
—Alex Catarinella, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
For their final time together on the set of the miniseries, Bateman and a freshly blonde-wigged Law kissed production goodbye in hard-rocking style.
—Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rocking
Verb
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Skyrocketing housing costs may be swaying Americans from having children, contributing to plunging birth rates in the country, data suggests.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Sep. 2025
-
And Bunny seemed to be swaying now slightly to our various musics.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Signs of life from defensive sectors and consumer cyclicals wobbling might suggest the market is more preoccupied with near-term downside macroeconomic risk, as we likely are headed into a government shutdown and an official-data vacuum.—
Michael Santoli,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
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Designed to reduce wobbling and provide additional support, the lightweight slip-ons boast the benefits of orthopedic shoes while looking far from them.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The administration’s lurching one way and another with tariffs is another example.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
20 Sep. 2025
-
The title track opens the affair by lurching and creeping forward for ten minutes with odd, off-putting lyrics.—
Jed Gottlieb,
Boston Herald,
13 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Not even a month had passed since his big sister, Toraya, was shot and killed at an apartment complex in New Jersey, devastating the Reid family and shaking the Timberwolves organization to its core.—
Jon Krawczynski,
New York Times,
30 Sep. 2025
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In sixteenth-century Europe, just as Martin Luther’s ideas were shaking Catholic institutions, a far more radical movement for freedom rose up among peasants.—
The Editors,
JSTOR Daily,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
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Shutdown hits when Dow is breaking records Overall, the economy has been rolling along.—
Susan Tompor,
Freep.com,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The economy has been quietly weathering recession-like conditions since sometime in 2022, Wilson has argued throughout, with a recession not being picked up by conventional measurements but rather rolling through different segments of the economy, one at a time.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Street is critical of Cornell for not initiating enough changes and corrections to improve Target’s business, which has been faltering for several seasons.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
1 Oct. 2025
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The Lions moved to 2-1, while the Ravens are now 1-2 after faltering late in this game.—
Scott Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
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After tense standoffs with Mallory (Crystle Stewart) and Horace's ex-wife, Olivia (Debbi Morgan), Kimmie enters the meeting and promptly takes it over, surprising the family with her mind for numbers.—
Christopher Rudolph,
PEOPLE,
11 Sep. 2025
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Detroit rapper Kash Doll pulled out all the stops for her boyfriend, NFL star Za’Darius Smith’s 33rd birthday, surprising him with a custom ride that has fans talking.—
Preezy Brown,
VIBE.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rocking. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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