1
as in swaying
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 faltering
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 stunning
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 amazing
to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected
the news of the mayor's sudden death rocked the city
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of rocking
Marc Masters, Pitchfork, 24 Apr. 2026
There are some traditional pieces that set a framework for the exhibition — functional objects, like a rustic rocking chair made from logs hewn from pine and aspen by Jon Weekly, who owns Medicine Wolf Furniture, headquartered in Denver.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 20 Apr. 2026
While Kesteloo is used to traveling at sea, the rocking and swaying of the boat might affect you differently.
—Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
Then, noticing changes in the wind and the rocking of the boat, an uneasiness crept over the veteran seaman.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
Then there’s the literal rocking of docks and fishing boats, which causes disputes between different lake users.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2026
Keeping with the Marlow collection’s outdoor rocking chair theme is this set of two chairs.
—Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2026
Expect leather benches, custom drapery, rattan rocking chairs, and oversize armoires that discreetly conceal the tile-and-marble bathrooms with soaking tubs and bamboo shades.
—AFAR Media, 30 Dec. 2025
There is only Kyle and her porch and her chair and the rocking, the rocking, the rocking, the rocking.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 1 May 2026
For Mother's Day 2022, Mimi posted a carousel of pics which included this beautiful photo of herself and the twins rocking their bouncy curls.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Best Deals of the Month Overall Adirondack chairs are always popular for spring and summer, but this rocking feature immediately stopped me in my scroll.
—Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Apr. 2026
Feeling restless and reckless, Michael (LJ Benet) is drawn to a hard-rocking local band that is secretly a quartet of young vampires that is literally sucking the life out of the community.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Logitech Gaming Headset Deal The Logitech G435 is the ultimate entry-level pro headset, rocking LightSpeed wireless for that zero-lag performance your future fans expect.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 27 Apr. 2026
Cinemas nationwide will soon be rocking to the story of one of music’s greatest talents.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026
Tales From ’85 indicates very little interest in rocking the Stranger Things boat, narratively or tonally or any other-ly.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Harry Styles and Zoë Kravitz are sparking engagement rumors, with the actress-director spotted multiple times rocking a massive diamond on her left ring finger.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
Noun
Alan Bishop’s latest album seems at first like a showcase of his music at its most rocking.
—Marc Masters, Pitchfork, 24 Apr. 2026
There are some traditional pieces that set a framework for the exhibition — functional objects, like a rustic rocking chair made from logs hewn from pine and aspen by Jon Weekly, who owns Medicine Wolf Furniture, headquartered in Denver.
—Ray Mark Rinaldi, Denver Post, 20 Apr. 2026
While Kesteloo is used to traveling at sea, the rocking and swaying of the boat might affect you differently.
—Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
Then, noticing changes in the wind and the rocking of the boat, an uneasiness crept over the veteran seaman.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2026
Then there’s the literal rocking of docks and fishing boats, which causes disputes between different lake users.
—Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 2 Apr. 2026
Keeping with the Marlow collection’s outdoor rocking chair theme is this set of two chairs.
—Carly Totten, Better Homes & Gardens, 31 Mar. 2026
Expect leather benches, custom drapery, rattan rocking chairs, and oversize armoires that discreetly conceal the tile-and-marble bathrooms with soaking tubs and bamboo shades.
—AFAR Media, 30 Dec. 2025
There is only Kyle and her porch and her chair and the rocking, the rocking, the rocking, the rocking.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2025
Verb
Insiders told the Miami Herald that the event went swimmingly, even despite a near-miss between Earle, rocking a red mini-dress, and her footballer ex, Braxton Berrios.
—Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 1 May 2026
For Mother's Day 2022, Mimi posted a carousel of pics which included this beautiful photo of herself and the twins rocking their bouncy curls.
—Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Best Deals of the Month Overall Adirondack chairs are always popular for spring and summer, but this rocking feature immediately stopped me in my scroll.
—Jacqueline Tempera, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Apr. 2026
Feeling restless and reckless, Michael (LJ Benet) is drawn to a hard-rocking local band that is secretly a quartet of young vampires that is literally sucking the life out of the community.
—Frank Rizzo, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
Logitech Gaming Headset Deal The Logitech G435 is the ultimate entry-level pro headset, rocking LightSpeed wireless for that zero-lag performance your future fans expect.
—Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 27 Apr. 2026
Cinemas nationwide will soon be rocking to the story of one of music’s greatest talents.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 23 Apr. 2026
Tales From ’85 indicates very little interest in rocking the Stranger Things boat, narratively or tonally or any other-ly.
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2026
Harry Styles and Zoë Kravitz are sparking engagement rumors, with the actress-director spotted multiple times rocking a massive diamond on her left ring finger.
—Jami Ganz, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rocking
Verb
-
Many in Sacramento are skeptical that Brin and his fellow ultra-rich will succeed in swaying California state politics.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The mailbox, which surprisingly pops up from a landscape of sugar-white sand and sea oats swaying in the wind, creates a scene straight from a movie.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Magic played well before faltering down the stretch and had to win an elimination game in the play-in tournament.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
In some ways, the pair of them have become symbolic of the hope that this team can rise again after faltering in recent weeks.—
Amy Lawrence,
New York Times,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
In one camp Gao Sheng breaks a cultural norm by helping her father and uncles with a big project, amazing her relatives with her physical and mental strength.—
Mary Ann Grossmann,
Twin Cities,
18 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
All the trembling, as Kimbangu touched the sick, alarmed European settlers and reassured the plantation workers who trekked to Nkamba in search of healing.—
Rodney Muhumuza,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
-
At first this change of scale vivifies the butterfly—its brief stillness, the angle of its wings, its trembling—while freezing everything else, including the novel’s action.—
Ben Lerner,
The New York Review of Books,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Another neighbor recalled an elevator lurching between floors.—
Elle McLogan,
CBS News,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Meanwhile the Caliente Range — those mountains just to the west — are lurching the opposite way.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This is the kind of car that would be a treat to see stateside – and likely one that will have American automakers shaking in their boots.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
2 May 2026
-
Redick said, when going back into the rolodex of his career, that shaking off the rust – as Reaves is doing right now – can have different results depending on the scenario.—
Benjamin Royer,
Oc Register,
2 May 2026
Verb
-
Fairview came out throwing haymakers, dazing the Bruins in the early going.—
Patrick Saunders,
Denver Post,
23 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The horror has come now like a storm— what if this night prefigured the night after death— what if all thereafter was an eternal quivering on the edge of an abyss, with everything base and vicious in oneself urging one forward and the baseness and viciousness of the world just ahead.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The old dog slowed to a stop, nose full of bird stink, feathery tail quivering.—
Joel M. Vance,
Outdoor Life,
29 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rocking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rocking. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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