cock 1 of 4

Definition of cocknext
as in to slope
to set or cause to be at an angle cocked his head to the side as he listened to her quizzically

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

cock

2 of 4

noun (1)

as in tilt
the act of positioning or an instance of being positioned at an angle a slight cock of his head suggested that he was listening in on our conversation

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in valve
a fixture for controlling the flow of a liquid an automobile radiator cock

Synonyms & Similar Words

cock

4 of 4

noun (3)

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 cock
Verb
Gemma hung around on mid-deck most of the time, staring at the air lock entrance, sometimes with her head cocked. Lizz Schumer, People.com, 9 Aug. 2025 High up in Canada’s Yukon Territory, a seismic gun is being cocked and aimed at the little community of Dawson City—population 1,600. Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 29 July 2025 Carmelo Anthony, who was hosting Queen for the weekend, cocked his head. Sam Cohn, Baltimore Sun, 25 June 2025 In the videos of the confrontation, an agent is seen and heard cocking a gun as others tussle with Martinez. Rachel Uranga, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025 While his bandmates pranced around the stage with black dildos bobbing from their noses and top hats jauntily cocked, Forrest would open the show in a Joker-esque getup, holding a flaming Bible. Brenna Ehrlich, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2025 Like the self-portrait, Ezekiel’s sculpture portrays Titian with his head cocked toward his right shoulder, a lapel tucked underneath his coat, chains hanging around his neck, and his long beard and skullcap. Samantha Baskind, Smithsonian Magazine, 29 May 2025 Porter cocked her head and mused that the house had been a strong candidate for sale, but news that the pope had grown up there might be a sign to move ahead with buying it. Angie Leventis Lourgos, Chicago Tribune, 8 May 2025 The captain cocked his stick back and launched a wrister past Dallas goaltender Jake Oettinger to give the hosts a 3-0 lead and send Ball Arena into complete hysterics. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 26 Apr. 2025
Noun
The story is told from Dah’s perspective, as Jocelyn—who displays a quasi-mystical rapport with fighting cocks—suffers an emotional breakdown, putting their business and their lives in danger. The New Yorker, 26 July 2024 The former became fighting cocks and the latter became sows. Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 6 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cock
Verb
  • If not replanting a shrub, fill the hole and level the ground, being sure to slope it away from structures for proper drainage.
    Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 5 July 2026
  • The sloping roofs achieve this in a way that benefits both residents in their apartments and visitors in the streets.
    Bridget Borgobello July 04, New Atlas, 4 July 2026
Noun
  • This seemingly contradictory event is explained by Earth's axial tilt, not its orbital distance.
    Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • The tilt of the Earth’s axis has much, much more to do with the seasons!
    Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 5 July 2026
Noun
  • This forces the lower esophageal sphincter, the valve between the esophagus and the stomach, to open and close rapidly in succession.
    Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • The utility said around noon that crews are in the process of locating valves to get water pumping again, but repairs might take 12-16 hours.
    David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • Baby Boomers, meanwhile, are armed with piles of cash and plenty of time, giving them more flexibility for travel.
    Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 6 July 2026
  • As her daughter sweeps away the last piles of sand, 54-year-old Nuru Mohammed directs women hanging fishing nets to serve as décor.
    ABC News, ABC News, 6 July 2026
Verb
  • Johnson had been angling for such a resolution since the last weeks of 1963 and had begun discussing it in earnest the following February.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 July 2026
  • David Zaslav announced plans to split up WBD in June, and a few months later, Paramount and Netflix were angling to take over the whole company.
    Josef Adalian, Vulture, 1 July 2026
Noun
  • Rainy weather driving tips Switch on headlights - Even during daylight hours, using headlights can enhance visibility and signal your presence to other drivers.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 July 2026
  • The butterfly encircles Larsson's eye, with its wings spanning the whole area from her inner brow to well past its tip.
    Kara Nesvig, Allure, 6 July 2026
Noun
  • Customers may notice a stack of small business cards at the hostess stand near the entrance.
    Jenna Thompson July 2, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026
  • The perfect alternative to wearing your gold ring stacks to the beach.
    Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 2 July 2026
Verb
  • On Monday, McFarlane and two friends were outside the fencing, leaning against the metal barriers in front of the Department of Agriculture, which faces the National Mall.
    Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • This look leans more subdued and boho with its all-black layers and accessories, but feel free to experiment with contrasting tones and more color for a bolder result.
    Katherine J Igoe, InStyle, 2 July 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Cock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cock. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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