ROCK Synonyms: 183 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

rock 1 of 3

noun

Definition of rock

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

rough

rock

2 of 3

verb

ˈräk

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

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

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

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

Related Words

Dissimilar Words

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

The rock band was initially formed in 1992 in California by bassist and co-lead vocalist Mark Hoppus, guitarist and co-lead vocalist Tom DeLonge and drummer Scott Raynor. — Ariana Quihuiz, PEOPLE, 16 Aug. 2026 Aerial footage of the highway shows parts of it destroyed by what appears to be a massive landslide, where water and rocks have piled on. — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026

Verb

Cabrera was rocked for seven runs on six hits in 3 2/3 innings. — CBS News, 16 Aug. 2026 The crackdown comes just weeks after another massive street takeover rocked Suffolk County. — Sophia Compton, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026

Adjective

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 As the quartet builds toward a post-rock crescendo and a wistful, snowcapped outro that’s lightly accompanied by the sound of children on a playground, Kinsella and his bandmates spin the narrative in a kaleidoscopic language all their own. — Sam Sodomsky, Pitchfork, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for rock

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rock

Noun

And that’s without factoring in what had, until my most recent visit to this bit of the Lincolnshire coast in 2024, been a hidden gem.

— Richard Sutcliffe, New York Times, 13 Aug. 2026
Both teams turned in defensive gems in the second inning, though only one resulted in an out.

— CBS News, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of gem

Verb

There's very little proof that in any election there has been enough absentee ballot fraud to sway a result.

— Dana Taylor, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026
Although his conservative flank has a lock on power, Roberts himself has less sway than ever over an increasingly fractious Court.

— Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of sway

Verb

First, Murdock recognized the Falcons setting up a screen and then shook off a block attempt by the pulling center and dropped running back Tyler Goodson for no gain.

— Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
In quiet spaces, cues on whether the ground is shaking are distorted by our expectations.

— New Atlas, New Atlas, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of shake

Verb

The result surprised the team because semiconductor materials are generally highly sensitive to impurities.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 15 Aug. 2026
If Dern gets on top of Robertson, though, the fight could be over, and a submission for Dern wouldn’t surprise me.

— Brett Appley, New York Times, 15 Aug. 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

Verb

Maresca, though, does not appear to have much taste for the Premier League’s lurch towards balls into the box.

— Sam Lee, New York Times, 11 Aug. 2026
The United States, which had been lurching toward entry in the Second World War, was suddenly and inescapably thrust into global conflict.

— Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of lurch

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“Rock.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rock. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of rock

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Synonyms of rock

noun

verb

adjective

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Phrases Containing rock

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Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on rock

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