rocky

1 of 2

adjective (1)

rockier; rockiest
1
: abounding in or consisting of rocks
2
: difficult to impress or affect : insensitive
3
: firmly held : steadfast

rocky

2 of 2

adjective (2)

rockier; rockiest
1
2
: physically upset or mentally confused (as from drinking excessively)
3
: marked by obstacles or problems : difficult, rough
a financially rocky yearMichael Murray

Examples of rocky in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Adjective
That the posing and posturing for the public continued even as the Pentagon descended into turmoil over his rocky leadership seemed to say something, too. Jonathan Swan, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025 Smith, standing by a table of unclaimed nametags (Brad, Brock, Craig, Frank, John, Justin, Orlando, Stan), conceded that the path to paradise had been rocky. Michael Schulman, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025 Expect to jump off small waterfalls, navigate through rocky caverns, and drift beneath thousands of brilliant glowworms lighting up the cave ceiling like a night sky. Alexandra Gillespie, Outside Online, 28 Apr. 2025 The semi-interred building isn’t really a New York — or a city — thing (except perhaps for the Irish Hunger Memorial, a low box that wears a chunk of rocky countryside on its shoulder). Justin Davidson, Curbed, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rocky

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

Middle English rokky, from rokke rock

Adjective (2)

rock entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1737, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rocky was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Rocky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rocky. Accessed 2 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

rocky

1 of 2 adjective
rockier; rockiest
: full of or consisting of rocks
rockiness noun

rocky

2 of 2 adjective
rockier; rockiest
1
: weak and confused and unsteady on one's feet
2
: marked by obstacles or problems : difficult
a rocky start
rockiness
-ē-nəs
noun

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