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
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Recent Examples of rocking
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
The sturdy rocking base is great for steep uphill and downhill control and traction.
—Taylor Fox, Travel + Leisure, 29 Nov. 2025
Hey, if the formula’s rocking, why change it now?
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 5 Nov. 2025
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
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
Rihanna showed off her toned abs while rocking studded short shorts during her visit to Indio Valley.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
After a month of rumors, Summer House stars Amanda Batula and West Wilson confirmed their newfound relationship on March 31, rocking the Bravosphere.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 8 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
An unknown number of transient people were rolling around in the grass and rocking back and forth.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
The actor, who turned 56 this past November, shared a new photo of himself on Instagram rocking bright blonde pigtails and a full beard.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 7 Apr. 2026
But now Golden State has the reigning Coach of the Year in Natalie Nakase, an outstanding arena and facility, and a rocking fan base.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Noun
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
The sturdy rocking base is great for steep uphill and downhill control and traction.
—Taylor Fox, Travel + Leisure, 29 Nov. 2025
Hey, if the formula’s rocking, why change it now?
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 5 Nov. 2025
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
Verb
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
Rihanna showed off her toned abs while rocking studded short shorts during her visit to Indio Valley.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 10 Apr. 2026
After a month of rumors, Summer House stars Amanda Batula and West Wilson confirmed their newfound relationship on March 31, rocking the Bravosphere.
—Mckinley Franklin, HollywoodReporter, 8 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
An unknown number of transient people were rolling around in the grass and rocking back and forth.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2026
The actor, who turned 56 this past November, shared a new photo of himself on Instagram rocking bright blonde pigtails and a full beard.
—Emma Banks, InStyle, 7 Apr. 2026
But now Golden State has the reigning Coach of the Year in Natalie Nakase, an outstanding arena and facility, and a rocking fan base.
—Sabreena Merchant, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rocking
Verb
-
Artists and performers from across Africa wore elaborate outfits, with beads and feathers, while others had their bodies covered in colorful paint, swaying along Indigenous Yoruba rhythms.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The whole thing was a striking visual spectacle, too — waves of musicians rising from both sides, backup singers swaying and clapping, spotlights sweeping across the floor as a roaming camera zipped through the crowd like a drone that had just discovered country music.—
Theoden Janes,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Dubai, in particular, finds its position as the crown jewel of Middle East’s tourism faltering as its airports have been forced to shut temporarily during the conflict.—
Sydney Goh,
CNBC,
4 Apr. 2026
-
Tatum’s injury was supposed to be a big reason the conference was so wide-open, along with the Indiana Pacers faltering because of Tyrese Haliburton’s own Achilles injury.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
9 Mar. 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
-
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
-
Its strength ranges from mild, causing little more discomfort than a slight trembling, to severe, in which passengers or flight crew can be thrown around the cabin and risk injury if not wearing seatbelts.—
Cat Rainsford,
Popular Science,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Still, morale is much worse compared with December 2024, before DOGE took aim at the health agency's budgets and staffing, and before rounds of lurching job cuts and reinstatements left thousands of CDC workers in limbo or severed from their careers.—
Pien Huang,
NPR,
25 Mar. 2026
-
There are plenty of differences, but the stability Atleti have fostered in sticking with Simeone stands in stark contrast to Spurs’ habit of lurching between managers, styles and approaches.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
That hasn’t stopped them from taking two of three meetings with the Ducks in 2025-26, albeit with the first victory coming before Vancouver’s roster-shaking Quinn Hughes trade and the most recent confrontation being a 5-2 tilt in the Ducks’ favor on March 24.—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
11 Apr. 2026
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Surveillance footage from inside the store showed tension between Dempsey and Thurston, which Dempsey attempted to defuse by shaking Thurston’s hand.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
10 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
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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 13 Apr. 2026.
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