lurching

verb

present participle of lurch
1
as in swaying
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions the room lurched with every jolt of the earthquake

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in staggering
to move forward while swaying from side to side dressed in his zombie costume, the boy lurched down the street in his quest for Halloween candy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 lurching The ladies haven’t had that problem, lurching out of the gate like the racehorses at Ascot. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 1 May 2026 Taking the ride with Lazy Horse means embracing that chaos, lurching from song to song. — Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 25 June 2026 The same boom-and-bust dependency on the oil industry, whose profits were now funnelled through the regime and its allies, kept the country lurching from one crisis to the next. — Armando Ledezma, New Yorker, 30 June 2026 These are some of the heaviest grooves that Seefeel have created in ages, channeling lurching currents through intricate chains of dub delay. — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 6 May 2026 Another neighbor recalled an elevator lurching between floors. — Elle McLogan, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2026 As is Takal, clearly having fun with the film’s queasy, lurching atmospherics, abetted by the sparse, shivery, atonal chimes of Jonathan Goldsmith’s score, and the floating, disembodied feel of Robert Leitzell’s camerawork. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 June 2026 The old guard of the Democratic Party suffered another body blow when three socialist congressional candidates in New York with anti-Israel platforms swept to victory, lurching the party even further to the left. — Joe Battenfeld, Boston Herald, 25 June 2026 When Colombia heads to the polls June 21, the region will be watching to see if the nation joins the right-wing surge across Latin America, with Chile, Honduras, and Costa Rica lurching to the political right over the past year. — Manuel Rueda, Christian Science Monitor, 20 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurching
  1. swaying
  2. staggering
  3. rocking
  4. shuffling
  5. shaking
  6. weaving
Verb
  • The coffin was unveiled late on Thursday to a throng of sobbing supporters, who were swaying and beating their heads in time to a sung lament as flowers were thrown from the bier into the crowd.
    — Reuters, USA Today, 4 July 2026
  • The movie is an apex of film noir, filled with dark shadows, moody lighting and ominous swaying palm trees.
    — Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 29 June 2026
Definition of swaying
Verb
  • The works depicted broken figures staggering toward the viewer in ragged uniforms — in distorted sizes, giant hands and small heads.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
  • The works depicted broken figures staggering toward the viewer in ragged uniforms — in distorted sizes, giant hand and small heads.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 May 2026
Definition of staggering
Verb
  • The country’s massive celebrations have made international headlines, with videos of exuberant fans rocking cars and even buses going viral.
    — Kate Linthicum, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
  • Just remember the most important part when rocking a bowl cut is the attitude.
    — Genesis Rivas, InStyle, 1 July 2026
Definition of rocking
Verb
  • Enola dutifully trudges between clues and possibilities, shuffling through crime scenes and racing around shady spaces, all of this much more paint-by-numbers than connect-the-dots.
    — Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 30 June 2026
  • Colombia is trying its luck from distance, but Costa has been equal to each shot, first punching away Jefferson Lerma's rocket from the right, about 25 yards out, and then shuffling his feet to his left and catching Jhon Arias's shot from about the same distance.
    — NBC News, NBC news, 28 June 2026
Definition of shuffling
Verb
  • This tournament has built credibility by showcasing teams competing at a high level, then shaking hands afterward.
    — Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 5 July 2026
  • An earth-shaking roar The World Cup finally arrived in Kansas City after several years of preparation and anticipation.
    — Dominick Williams, Kansas City Star, 3 July 2026
Definition of shaking
Verb
  • Following the mini concert, attendees dispersed across the property, gathering around a massive outdoor fireplace and weaving through the home’s stylish interiors.
    — Vogue, Vogue, 6 July 2026
  • Some riders gallivant and whoosh past bystanders, weaving in and out and putting surrounding passersby on edge.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 5 July 2026
Definition of weaving

Browse Nearby Words

lurches
lurching
lure
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Cite this Entry

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

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More from Merriam-Webster on lurching

Nglish: Translation of lurching for Spanish Speakers

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