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
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
Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026
Add to that the soothing rhythm of a cozy train rocking along its tracks, and everyday stresses start to melt away.
—Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 June 2026
Kaling recently went on a New York City stroll while rocking a mini crossbody bag with stunning gold hardware.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026
On Wednesday, when the New York Knicks return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, Madison Square Garden will be rocking — even if Game 1 takes place 1,820 miles southwest at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2026
By Tuesday night, his livestream captured through a window in the building a woman rocking back and forth before crouching further down below the window.
—ABC News, 2 June 2026
The Barbie actress didn’t skimp on accessories, either, rocking a dramatic Stephen Jones hat with gold-leaf lining, a Bvlgari Serpenti necklace and earrings, white gloves, and Christian Louboutin Miss Z Pumps in Bianco, according to a People report.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 1 June 2026
The explosion – rocking the Atlantic Coast of Florida and startling residents – completely destroyed the rocket's booster and upper stage that flies in orbit, while significantly damaging the launch pad.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Among those is the album’s rocking title song.
—Steve Appleford, SPIN, 29 May 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
First and foremost, as was first reported by Shanghai Daily, the child was not seriously injured, so if your first instinct was to fear retribution for laughing at the visual of a humanoid robot doing a Rex-Kwan-Do routine in a clown wig and rocking some little kid in the chest, then worry not.
—Austin Perry Outkick, FOXNews.com, 6 June 2026
Add to that the soothing rhythm of a cozy train rocking along its tracks, and everyday stresses start to melt away.
—Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 June 2026
Kaling recently went on a New York City stroll while rocking a mini crossbody bag with stunning gold hardware.
—Sian Babish, PEOPLE, 3 June 2026
On Wednesday, when the New York Knicks return to the NBA Finals for the first time since 1999, Madison Square Garden will be rocking — even if Game 1 takes place 1,820 miles southwest at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2026
By Tuesday night, his livestream captured through a window in the building a woman rocking back and forth before crouching further down below the window.
—ABC News, 2 June 2026
The Barbie actress didn’t skimp on accessories, either, rocking a dramatic Stephen Jones hat with gold-leaf lining, a Bvlgari Serpenti necklace and earrings, white gloves, and Christian Louboutin Miss Z Pumps in Bianco, according to a People report.
—Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 1 June 2026
The explosion – rocking the Atlantic Coast of Florida and startling residents – completely destroyed the rocket's booster and upper stage that flies in orbit, while significantly damaging the launch pad.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Among those is the album’s rocking title song.
—Steve Appleford, SPIN, 29 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rocking
Verb
-
The man looked at me in a rustling way, swaying toward me, his Styrofoam plate of angel hair and cherry tomatoes dotted with tiny black seeds like ants’ eyes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Bathrooms include illuminated sink basins and cocoon tubs, as well as inside and outdoor showers, shaded by swaying palms.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 June 2026
Verb
-
After faltering in last year’s Div.—
Brendan Connelly,
Boston Herald,
30 May 2026
-
But now, as the public understands the consequences of our faltering democracy, more people are talking about it, Drutman said.—
Mary Ellen Klas,
Mercury News,
26 May 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
-
These are some of the heaviest grooves that Seefeel have created in ages, channeling lurching currents through intricate chains of dub delay.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
6 May 2026
-
The ladies haven’t had that problem, lurching out of the gate like the racehorses at Ascot.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
People gathered near the site to get a front row seat to the ground-shaking event.—
Abigail Dollins,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 June 2026
-
Then, during one family movie night in November 2020, her husband noticed her arm was shaking.—
Kerry Breen,
CBS News,
6 June 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 8 Jun. 2026.
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