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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to sway
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 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
as in to stun
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 to surprise
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
the news of the mayor's sudden death rocked the city
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in rocklike
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of rock
Kalie Cassidy
july 25, Literary Hub, 25 July 2025
His dream was to get a degree in classical music and combine classical and rock together.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 24 July 2025
Rob Salkowitz, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
The murders rocked the quiet college town of Moscow and set off a weekslong manhunt.
Kohberger, who was studying criminal justice at nearby Washington State University at the time, was arrested in Pennsylvania, where his family lives.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rock
Verb
They’re mentioned first in the Odyssey and Argonautica as bird-like women with alluring voices, waiting upon jagged rocks to draw unsuspecting sailors to a dismal, watery end with their song.
—Kalie Cassidy
july 25, Literary Hub, 25 July 2025
His dream was to get a degree in classical music and combine classical and rock together.
—Jem Aswad, Variety, 24 July 2025
Adjective
When George Lucas takes the stage Sunday to unveil his new Museum of Narrative Art, Hall H will be rocking, and for a long weekend at least, the problems of the real world will feel like a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away.
—Rob Salkowitz, Forbes.com, 23 July 2025
The murders rocked the quiet college town of Moscow and set off a weekslong manhunt.
Kohberger, who was studying criminal justice at nearby Washington State University at the time, was arrested in Pennsylvania, where his family lives.
—Kinsey Crowley, USA Today, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for rock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rock
Noun
-
One of the best things about streamers like Tubi is finding hidden gems.—
Tanya Melendez,
EW.com,
1 Aug. 2025
-
That being said, there are oddities and hidden gems worth checking out, whether to get a good laugh or find a new favorite novelty.—
Steven Louis Goldstein,
New York Times,
31 July 2025
Verb
-
Also, a covert foreign influence campaign aimed at swaying public opinion and sowing discord through fake social media posts.—
Dan Gooding
Gabe Whisnant,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
-
The changes bumped the base credit from 20 to 35 percent, which will likely shower productions with significantly more subsidies, though legislators mostly targeted swaying TV shows to film in the state.—
Winston Cho,
HollywoodReporter,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen shook hands in Scotland on Sunday after agreeing on the framework for a trade deal between two of the world’s biggest economies.—
Jade Walker,
CNN Money,
28 July 2025
-
Accompanied by her brother-in-law, Sen. Edward Kennedy, the former first lady was seen at N.Y.C.'s 21 Club — shaking hands with other frequenters.—
Alex Apatoff,
People.com,
28 July 2025
Verb
-
While she was alarmed by shiny black leggings, slingback boots, and a jean jacket, I was equally stunned by her Pentecostal version of nurses’ scrubs; a powder blue, boxy dress with a matching jacket and headwrap.—
Essence,
Essence,
24 July 2025
-
In January 2019, the Empire star claimed to have been a victim of a hate crime that stunned Hollywood but later was accused of staging the attack.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
McLaren Racing Formula One driver Oscar Piastri was surprised by the Hungarian Grand Prix qualifying result after Ferrari's Charles Leclerc set a fastest time of 1:15.372, securing his first pole position of the season.—
Saajan Jogia,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Aug. 2025
-
The campaign claims Bronin’s early haul is twice what Larson had in cash on hand at the end of Q2, though the congressman was surprised by the flurry of challenges to what until now has been his certain reelection.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
1 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
However, the jewel of the hotel is its shimmering heated saltwater pool.—
Regan Stephens,
Travel + Leisure,
11 July 2025
-
Kardashian's jewels also featured two Lorraine Schwartz necklaces with approximately 250 carats of diamonds.—
Catherine Santino,
People.com,
9 July 2025
Verb
-
But that’s not enough opposition to stop CPS from lurching substantially further toward insolvency if Harden and interim school Superintendent Macquline King choose that route.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
25 July 2025
-
Like Germany after the defeat of Hitler, Argentina lurched back and forth between judging its past crimes and trying to move beyond them.—
Julia M. Klein,
The Atlantic,
11 July 2025
Verb
-
After Democrats took control of the Senate in 2021 with President Joe Biden in the White House, efforts to address the cap again faltered, despite efforts by Pritzker and other Democratic governors who wrote Biden a letter that spring calling for it to be eliminated.—
Dan Petrella,
Chicago Tribune,
28 July 2025
-
Trump's ratings on some of the most significant issues facing the country also faltered, according to Gallup pollsters.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
27 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rock. Accessed 7 Aug. 2025.
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