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
-
Beginning in Málaga, the journey winds through Andalucía's cultural gems — Granada, Sevilla and Córdoba — offering golden-hour shoots at iconic sites like La Alhambra and Plaza de España.—
Jamie Carter,
Space.com,
19 July 2025
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These three Top 70 Open Championship venues are the anchor and main draw, but there is more great links golf, and my personal favorite hidden gem within this hidden gem destination was Wallasey.—
Larry Olmsted,
Forbes.com,
18 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
-
And as the administrative district judge who sets the judicial rules for the region and helps assign the capital city’s cases, Hippler has sway over who gets picked, Idaho courts spokesperson Nate Poppino told the Idaho Statesman, despite the judge’s public umbrage about receiving the assignment.—
Idaho Statesman,
Idaho Statesman,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
Chinese President Xi Jinping, left, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić shaking hands after signing bilateral documents during a meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, on May 8, 2024.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 July 2025
-
Nikki Bella and Lola Vice were shaking their hips in the middle of the ring, and Wade Barrett encouraged Michael Cole to show them what he’s got.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
14 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
-
Bruce Brigham, the business's president, said Howie Glass had been a Midwest Glass customer for about 30 years and they were surprised by the closure news.—
JC Reindl,
Freep.com,
23 July 2025
-
The harmonious blend of savory premium ground beef, the depth of rich cocoa, and the bold notes of robust coffee create a flavor symphony that surprises and delights even the most experienced palates.—
Aly Walansky,
Forbes.com,
22 July 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
-
Skills Even with the best tools, untrained teams falter.—
Saby Waraich,
Forbes.com,
15 July 2025
-
Most of the recent job growth was in health care, social assistance, leisure and hospitality, a red flag that overall job growth may falter in the coming months.—
Reader Commentary,
Baltimore Sun,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Rock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rock. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.
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