rock 1 of 3

Definition of rocknext
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

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verb

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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

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rock

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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
Officials urge beachgoers to stay off rocks and jetties at times of high surf and keep an eye on the ocean. Melody Petersen, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026 Courtney Love was in attendance with her husband, Kurt Cobain, whose rock band, Nirvana, was up for Best Alternative Video. Quinn Moreland, Pitchfork, 14 June 2026
Verb
Alix Earle rocks a teeny blue bikini in Monaco for Formula 1 weekend. Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 14 June 2026 New York City was still rocking on Sunday, just hours after the Knicks completed one of the greatest championship runs the Tri-State Area has ever seen. Andrew Ramos, CBS News, 14 June 2026
Adjective
As the quartet builds toward a post-rock crescendo and a wistful, snowcapped outro that’s lightly accompanied by the sound of children on a playground, Kinsella and his bandmates spin the narrative in a kaleidoscopic language all their own. Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 4 May 2026 An old soul with with a huge, commanding voice, his catalog hovers between the orchestral swoon of pre-rock ballads, the pristine melodies of Anita Baker and the rangy, resilient yearning of his hometown’s soul tradition. Mikael Wood, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for rock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rock
Noun
  • The gems are also heavily associated with healing.
    Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 13 June 2026
  • The skin care gem is rich in omega-3 fatty acids to deeply hydrate and plump your skin while simultaneously protecting it from future damage.
    Kyra Surgent, InStyle, 13 June 2026
Verb
  • But listening to Magazine—their new 10-track, 11-minute album—that artful density becomes singular, swaying as much as whipping between its frantic ideas.
    Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 12 June 2026
  • On the outskirts of Vịnh Mốc, bamboo trees sway in the wind above a line of streetfood shacks.
    Pavlo Fedykovych, CNN Money, 12 June 2026
Verb
  • Canada’s first-ever World Cup win was overshadowed yesterday when midfielder Ismaël Koné suffered a broken leg after a tackle that left teammates shaken and coach Jesse Marsch lamenting an injury that turned a night of celebration into one of anguish.
    Andrew Greif, NBC news, 20 June 2026
  • In a major rupture, strong shaking could cause severe damage near the fault and in areas built on soft or water-saturated soils, which can amplify shaking.
    Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 19 June 2026
Verb
  • Brazil, meanwhile, had to battle back after Morocco stunned them with a goal before the first hydration break.
    Ben Church, CNN Money, 14 June 2026
  • While posing for photos at the event, Scherzinger stunned in a strapless black Zuhair Murad gown with a structured corset bodice with sheer fabric and fabric draped on the hips.
    Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 14 June 2026
Verb
  • None of this would have surprised a previous generation of German thinkers—the group known as the Institute for Social Research, or the Frankfurt School.
    Alex Ross, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
  • Stage Is Only One Piece of the Story One reason patients are surprised by the complexity of early breast cancer is that stage alone doesn’t tell the full story.
    Lauryn Higgins, Flow Space, 15 June 2026
Adjective
  • During Vargas Llosa’s lifetime, his political beliefs underwent extreme changes, from supporting Castro’s revolutionary Communism to championing traditional European liberalism, which included an adamantine belief in unregulated markets.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
  • Still, Naz, whose solitary ways confuse his family, very much wishes that Aziza wasn’t meeting his adamantine mother, Claudine (LaTanya Richardson Jackson), or his famous father, or his ex-state-senator older brother, Junior (Glenn Davis), recently incarcerated for embezzling campaign funds.
    Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • What a privilege for our crown-jewel stadium to welcome folks from around the globe and act as an advertisement for Atlanta and our country.
    Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 18 June 2026
  • Savopoulos makes just a handful of jewels a year, available through Symbolic & Chase’s London salon.
    Jill Newman, Robb Report, 18 June 2026
Verb
  • As the carriage lurched forward, the teen’s mother fell from the vehicle, prompting Romanch Mahajan to jump out in an effort to help her, The Times reported.
    Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 19 June 2026
  • As the opening ceremony began with a flurry of speeches, the bus carrying Team Zambia lurched to a stop by the side of the road in southern Zimbabwe, 200 miles away.
    Ryan Lenora Brown, NPR, 14 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Rock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rock. Accessed 20 Jun. 2026.

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