rock 1 of 3

slang
as in gem
a usually valuable stone cut and polished for ornament a trophy wife with enough rocks to open her own jewelry store

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rock

2 of 3

verb

1
2
as in to shake
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
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rock

3 of 3

adjective

Synonym Chooser

How is the word rock different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of rock are agitate, convulse, and shake. While all these words mean "to move up and down or to and fro with some violence," rock suggests a swinging or swaying motion resulting from violent impact or upheaval.

the whole city was rocked by the explosion

When could agitate be used to replace rock?

The synonyms agitate and rock are sometimes interchangeable, but agitate suggests a violent and prolonged tossing or stirring.

an ocean agitated by storms

Where would convulse be a reasonable alternative to rock?

In some situations, the words convulse and rock are roughly equivalent. However, convulse suggests a violent pulling or wrenching as of a body in a paroxysm.

spectators were convulsed with laughter

When is it sensible to use shake instead of rock?

The meanings of shake and rock largely overlap; however, shake often carries a further implication of a particular purpose.

shake well before using

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of rock
Noun
Chicago post-rock staples Tortoise are back with their first new album in nine years. Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 9 Sep. 2025 Today the band continues to push creative boundaries with their broad sonic palette and through collaborations with a diverse array of Korean artists, from K-pop stars like IU and Stray Kids to the experimental post-rock group Jambinai. Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025
Verb
The fossil was embedded inside rocks that date to between 115 million and 108 million years ago, in the Early Cretaceous period, when the area was covered by a lush river valley. Jack Tamisiea, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2025 Pockets of that fine, powdery rock still linger today on the volcano’s flanks and inside the crater. Briana Waxman, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025
Adjective
And finally, the projector rocks a single 5-W speaker only, meaning those wanting to be enveloped in a soundtrack will need to cable up to an external sound system over HDMI eARC or multi-channel S/PDIF. New Atlas, 15 Sep. 2025 The 77th iteration of the award show, held at Los Angeles’s Peacock Theater, also gives us the chance to see what hot horological pieces celebrities are rocking on the red carpet. Nicole Hoey, Robb Report, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for rock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rock
Noun
  • Second-year wide receiver Malik Nabers has been excellent to start the season, and fourth-year wideout Wan'Dale Robinson may be developing into a bit of a gem.
    Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Sep. 2025
  • As at Four Horsemen, where an oeuf mayonnaise is zebra-striped with squid ink and humble beans are treated like precious gems, Curtola trusts his diners to venture beyond obvious crowd-pleasers.
    Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • 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
  • 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
  • The team crowded around Johnson and offered hugs with celebratory cheers, shaking him around as Johnson got a bright smile on his face.
    Matthew Couden, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Kevin Gausman shook two champagne bottles in preparation.
    Mitch Bannon, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Aces Silenced by the Late Storm Push In the second game of the evening, the Las Vegas Aces were stunned by the Storm’s fourth quarter offense and lost, 86-83.
    Allison Smith, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • While many were stunned that an object like that would have been painted over at all.
    Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Allow team members to collaborate, and then surprise you with the results.
    Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
  • As is true every year there have been a few movies that have surprised people, but there’s a lot of enthusiasm for going to the theater.
    Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • What’s more, all this innovation is contained within a movement that measures just 4 mm thick—despite the presence of 379 individual components and 44 jewels.
    Oren Hartov, Robb Report, 20 Sep. 2025
  • There are also mile-wide court dresses; a step-by-step look at the queen’s daily toilette, and a replica of the jewels from the Affair of the Diamond Necklace, which saw Marie Antoinette’s reputation damaged by false criminal accusations.
    Samantha Conti, Footwear News, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The administration’s lurching one way and another with tariffs is another example.
    Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 20 Sep. 2025
  • His mother has since said her son's views lurched left in recent years.
    Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • As others faltered, a 3-0 win against Bristol Academy meant Liverpool retained the title, beating Chelsea on goal difference.
    Charlotte Harpur, New York Times, 22 Sep. 2025
  • Coals to Newcastle Mauriss emerged as a surprise contender to acquire Newcastle United in 2019, just as a controversial takeover bid by a Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF)-led consortium began to falter.
    Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 18 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Rock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rock. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.

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