rock 1 of 3

noun

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

2 of 3

verb

ˈräk How to pronounce rock (audio)
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

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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

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3
as in to stun
to make senseless or dizzy by a blow she rocked the mugger with a single punch and then ran

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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

rock

3 of 3

adjective

as in rocklike

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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
Bracco would somehow convince the owner of the Montana deli, Matt Benzel, to bring his roster of rock-n-roll sandwiches to the KC suburbs in 2025. — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2026 On this night, their fantastic rock spectacle went even further with new narrative twists and other fun surprises. — Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 22 Oct. 2026
Verb
Several French cities were rocked by looting and arson at the weekend, alongside mass peaceful protests over the state of public services, the cost of living and discontent with political leadership. — Jenni Reid, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026 Wilson rocked the stanchion with a ferocious dunk in transition in the fourth quarter, only to have his next attempt at a full-court sprint smacked away by Jamal Shead, leading to a Leonard 3-pointer on the other end. — Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Friday afternoon, prior to the rain, Canadian indie rockers Mother Mother offered up a one hour set on the Tito’s Handmade Vodka stage at Grant Park’s Petrillo Music Shell, part of a quasi-rock resurgence shaping the 2026 Lollapalooza lineup. — Jim Ryan, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026 The group’s final two albums — Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock — helped lay the groundwork for what would later be dubbed post-rock, inspiring generations of artists with their spacious, improvisational approach to composition. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 20 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for rock
Recent Examples of Synonyms for rock
  1. gem
  2. sway
  3. shake
  4. stun
  5. surprise
  6. adamantine
  7. jewel
  8. lurch
Noun
  • With a captivating bank fraud mystery, and two irresistible love stories, Kleypas’ uniquely wise and witty novel is a gem.
    — Monitor reviewers, Christian Science Monitor, 19 Oct. 2026
  • That is the heart of this gem of a company, which was performed for one night only Saturday at the Auditorium and marks the official kickoff to its season highlighting North American dance.
    — Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of gem
Verb
  • The most sensual scene in the movie is actually a dance number at a public gathering where the two characters slowly sway and caress each other, much to the horror and confusion of the other townsfolk.
    — Whitney Friedlander, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2026
  • This phenomenon has similarly been demonstrated in prediction markets, which have been shown to sway voters almost as much as polls.
    — Connor Greene, Time, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of sway
Verb
  • Sitake winds up practice with a prayer and insists that the defense and offense shake hands after going at one another all day.
    — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Mothers who beat, shook, shot, drowned, strangled, and stabbed their babies.
    — Anja Aronowsky Cronberg, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026
Definition of shake
Verb
  • Frelick tied the score with his first home run in three months, Pratt hit a go-ahead single in the seventh inning to make up for his earlier error and the Brewers stunned the Tampa Bay Rays 5-4 on Saturday night for a 2-0 World Series lead.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026
  • Short enough to read in a single sitting, Sara Gran’s chilling story of an architect succumbing to demonic possession will leave readers stunned and unsettled.
    — David Faris, TheWeek, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of stun
Verb
  • The cheapest day to fly may surprise you Kayak data suggests the cheapest day to fly during the holiday period is often the holiday itself.
    — Joshua Sidorowicz, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026
  • But what has surprised creators more than anything is how hard YouTube is fighting back.
    — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of surprise
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
  • Image My first collision with the adamantine wall of Vivamayr house rules coincided with my arrival.
    — Caity Weaver, New York Times, 25 Jan. 2025
Definition of adamantine
Noun
  • The crown jewel of the hotel, the wellness program offers all the usual suspects—massages, facials, and a variety of body treatments meant to soothe sore muscles—plus so much more.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 26 Oct. 2026
  • One of her final outings in the jewels was to the Diplomatic Reception at Buckingham Palace in 2019.
    — Stephanie Bridger-Linning, Vanity Fair, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of jewel
Verb
  • The insurrection drew immediate and obvious parallels to the United States, which, during much of the past decade, has lurched alongside Brazil through a strange hall of mirrors.
    — Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Hop on the #6 double-decker from Central to Stanley beach, which lurches around Hong Kong Island's mountainous southern South China Sea coast (sit upstairs on the right-hand side).
    — Lee Cobaj, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of lurch

Phrases Containing rock

Browse Nearby Words

robustness
rock
rockaway
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Cite this Entry

“Rock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rock. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on rock

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about rock

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