ROCKS Synonyms: 141 Similar and Opposite Words

rocks 1 of 2

noun

plural of rock, slang

as in jewels

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

roughs

rocks

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of rock

as in sways

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 shakes

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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as in stuns

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

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as in surprises

to make a strong impression on (someone) with something unexpected the news of the mayor's sudden death rocked the city

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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 rocks

Noun

The greybeards will take on the suicide mission of storming the castle walls, erecting ladders, and invading the city while arrows and rocks rain down on them. — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 10 Aug. 2026 In rocks from the interior of Rio Grande do Sul, 240-million-year-old fossils still hold clues about the origin of the animal groups that would transform terrestrial ecosystems forever. — The Conversation, Fortune, 10 Aug. 2026 Or kicked up enough red rocks that management started to get the hint. — Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 9 Aug. 2026 Comets are big space rocks that revolve around the sun, just like Earth. — Zoe Mintz, CBS News, 9 Aug. 2026 In Jezero Crater, the rover is studying some of the most ancient rocks in the Solar System, older than any on Earth, dating as far back as about 4 billion years ago. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 8 Aug. 2026 But from orbit, their radar is unable to see the first few feet of material just below the planet's surface — a zone where scientists expect to find shallow ice deposits mixed in with the rocks and dust. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 7 Aug. 2026 Not all avalanche victims die by asphyxiation — injuries from getting hit by a wall of snow or being swept through trees and rocks can kill people even if they’re not buried or suffocated. — Ethan Baron, Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2026 Sayf and a group of others from the town went out to protect our property and were attacked by the settlers with rocks, clubs and guns. — Kamel Musallet, Sun Sentinel, 7 Aug. 2026

Verb

The zigzag headband is ideal for a bad hair day or simply for effortlessly accessorizing an outfit, and Hailey Bieber effortlessly rocks it for everything from skin care routines and workouts to swimming. — Elise Fabre, Glamour, 8 Aug. 2026 Keanu Reeves rocks an all-black look at the premiere of Madwoman’s Game at the Chicano Hollywood Film Festival on July 30 in Pomona, California. — People Staff, PEOPLE, 1 Aug. 2026 But back inside, this M5 Pro MacBook rocks 24GB of unified memory and a 2TB SSD for all your files, programs, and work. — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 29 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rocks

Noun

These programs,the crown jewels of public diplomacy, also happen to be cheap.

— James K. Glassman, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026
Though most wouldn’t associate diamonds with crystal healing, Huang says the rare jewels—which Aries and Taurus both count among their birthstones—actually hold a meaning of their own.

— Kelsey Stiegman, InStyle, 7 Aug. 2026

Definition of jewels

Verb

The main road home is closed, so players must detour through a wild valley full of hills, rivers and angry wildlife, while the janky physics turn every bump into potential disaster as the RV sways, tips and flips with ease.

— Jason Bennett, Arkansas Online, 19 July 2026
As the water sways and the flowers blow, 120 wooden crosses now line the Guadalupe River in Kerr County.

— Marissa Armas, CBS News, 30 June 2026

Definition of sways

Verb

Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Kuomintang (KMT) party leader Cheng Li-wun in Beijing on Friday, April 10, 2026.

— Charlie Campbell, Time, 11 Aug. 2026
Their first and only home exhibition game arrives Friday night, when the Denver Broncos and former Saints coach Sean Payton (shakes fist) pay a preseason visit.

— Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 10 Aug. 2026

Definition of shakes

Verb

Designed by architect Bart Prince, this sculptural spot stuns with floor-to-ceiling windows and six viewing decks with impressive vistas of the Sandia Mountains.

— Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 3 Aug. 2026
Paula Abdul stuns in neon orange for The Hollywood Reporter’s A-list Aesthetics event at Hotel Bel-Air on July 15 in Los Angeles.

— Brendan Le, PEOPLE, 16 July 2026

Definition of stuns

Noun

Both teams turned in defensive gems in the second inning, though only one resulted in an out.

— CBS News, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
Upstate New York has no shortage of escape routes—charming inns, boutique hotels, and endless Airbnb gems—and choosing one is always the hardest part.

— Jessica Chapel, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Aug. 2026

Definition of gems

Verb

The film unhurriedly lurches from one markedly similar fight scene to the next, with only Skeletor’s occasional injections of ripe innuendo to liven them up a bit.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 2 June 2026
By the end, Noonan’s film stops feeling like a first date and starts to resemble the makings of a crime scene as his mood lurches toward something dangerous.

— Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 1 May 2026

Definition of lurches

Verb

Extreme heat is redefining electricity as emergency infrastructure, pushing grids to their limits as demand soars and supply falters.

— Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
While the federal government remains indispensable in public health, these state-level collaborations demonstrated that regional governance can emerge quickly when national leadership falters.

— John Eger, Mercury News, 17 July 2026

Definition of falters

Browse Nearby Words

rock-ribbed

rocks

rocky

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Style

“Rocks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rocks. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of rocks

noun

verb

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