1
as in to sway
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions
the room lurched with every jolt of the earthquake
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in to stagger
to move forward while swaying from side to side
dressed in his zombie costume, the boy lurched down the street in his quest for Halloween candy
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in washout
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lurch
Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Aug. 2025
In July, the federal program was abruptly cut under President Donald Trump’s sweeping One Big Beautiful Bill Act, leaving thousands across Illinois in the lurch.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
As bystanders watched, the luxury yacht lurched to one side, tilting dangerously before taking on water.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lurch
Verb
Because of this, many developers who would have attended Gamescom have been left in the lurch, so Gamescom's organizers came up with a way to make sure everyone who wants to attend still can.
—Oliver Brandt, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Aug. 2025
In July, the federal program was abruptly cut under President Donald Trump’s sweeping One Big Beautiful Bill Act, leaving thousands across Illinois in the lurch.
—Kate Armanini, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2025
Noun
That film begins with charismatic bank robber Ryan Gosling in a thrilling motorcycle escape from the cops, and moves through several twists and turns, lurches forward in time, and holds Gosling at its heart as a man doing bad things for good reasons.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
As bystanders watched, the luxury yacht lurched to one side, tilting dangerously before taking on water.
—Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for lurch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurch
Verb
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Massie and Spartz were the remaining two to vote against the rule, but leadership did not attempt to sway them to a yes.—
Rachel Schilke,
The Washington Examiner,
17 Sep. 2025
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Moving Hallway The walls will tilt, sway, expand and compress as visitors pass through a narrow hallway.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Layer pumpkins of different sizes, shades, and types, and stagger their height by placing some directly on the porch, others on hay bales, and nestling some into planters.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
17 Sep. 2025
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The planet staggered toward the most dangerous greenhouse in the fossil record.—
Peter Brannen,
Quanta Magazine,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The storm also left people trapped in seven vehicles on nearby roads after overflowing creeks caused washouts, deputies said.—
Don Sweeney,
Sacbee.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Because of semaglutide's long washout period, treatment should also be stopped at least two months before a planned pregnancy.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Kam Shanks could not shake Ole Miss' punt coverage team and Arkansas will start its first drive of the second half from the 9.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Sep. 2025
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As Emmy celebrations peppered the town on Saturday night, a starkly differently occasion left attendees shaken, tearful and reminded of the immersive power of cinema.—
Stacey Wilson Hunt,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Rangers don’t hold the tiebreaker over either team and would need a massive collapse from both to get back in the division hunt.—
Lawrence Dow,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
18 Sep. 2025
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None of the engagements produced their intended outcomes, and, in the case of Colvin’s dealings with Mauriss, the collapse of their pact led to legal threats.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Frazier came out of his corner in the 14th all but blind, rocking on unsteady legs.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
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Speaking of politics, singer and forty-ish America’s Got Talent standout from good ol’ Indiana, Adam Lambert, far right below, has been rocking a full-on Byzantine Empire surcoat/suit outfit for some time now.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The Bulls were the early-season darlings of the Group of Five, thanks to back-to-back upsets over Boise State and Florida.—
Giovanni Malloy,
Forbes.com,
15 Sep. 2025
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His hat trick for Norway in a near upset of the United States at this year’s World Championships — against a roster full of NHL players — turned heads.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Just as social media makes legacy media apparatus look sluggish by comparison, prediction markets expose traditional polls and surveys for being tainted by bias (see the 2016 Clinton fiasco).—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
17 Sep. 2025
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Long ago, most normal people concluded that this fiasco should be abandoned.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lurch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurch. Accessed 19 Sep. 2025.
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