Synonyms of rock

rock 1 of 3

noun

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

• gem
• jewel
• jewelry
• gemstone
• brilliant
• bauble
• zircon
• scarab
• trinket
• cabochon
• baguette
• rhinestone
• cameo
• solitaire
• crown jewels
• bijou
• paste
• teardrop
• birthstone

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• rough

rock

2 of 3

verb

ˈräk 

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

• sway
• lurch
• shake
• roll
• toss
• jerk
• halt
• vibrate
• wobble
• tumble
• wabble
• careen
• pitch
• seesaw
• weave
• falter
• stumble
• reel
• flounder
• toddle
• totter
• stagger
• vacillate
• waddle
• hobble
• waver
• buck
• blunder
• jolt
• hitch
• undulate
• oscillate
• teeter
• wag
• dodder
• waggle

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

• shake
• falter
• wobble
• tremble
• vibrate
• shudder
• totter
• wabble
• lurch
• waver
• quiver
• quake
• stumble
• flounder
• teeter
• toddle
• reel
• stagger
• weave
• quaver
• careen

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

• stun
• daze
• paralyze
• hit
• punch
• strike
• slam
• knock silly
• smack
• knock out
• slap
• rap
• pound
• knock for a loop
• bop
• bang
• belt
• sock
• hammer
• whack
• thump
• slug
• numb
• chop
• clock
• deaden
• beat
• bash
• bludgeon
• stupefy
• pummel
• knock down
• whale
• thwack
• benumb
• clobber
• batter
• smite
• clout
• buffet
• pelt
• cuff
• bonk
• maul
• paste
• swat
• bowl over
• mangle
• wallop
• bung
• drub

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

• surprise
• stun
• shock
• amaze
• startle
• astonish
• dumfound
• thunderstrike
• take aback
• floor
• take by surprise
• surprize
• bowl over
• dumbfound
• stupefy
• astound
• flabbergast
• blow away
• shake up
• jar
• blindside
• daze
• perplex
• muddle
• disconcert
• bewilder
• befuddle
• nonplus
• knock for a loop
• dismay
• confuse
• confound
• discomfit

rock

3 of 3

adjective

as in rocklike

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rocklike
• adamantine
• compacted
• compressed
• substantial
• condensed
• sound
• indurated
• hardened
• resistant
• sturdy
• tempered
• stiffened
• tough
• solid
• strong
• unyielding
• rigid
• crush-proof
• inelastic
• unbending
• case-hardened
• inflexible
• stiff
• tense
• firm
• hard

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• soft
• spongy
• mushy
• flabby
• squishy
• pulpy
• fleshy
• squashy
• doughy
• squooshy
• floppy
• slack
• limp
• flaccid
• yielding
• lank
• droopy

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

Examples of rock in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

According to one astrophysicist, however, there is a possibility that certain events may increase the chance for a catastrophic rendezvous with the roughly 1,210-foot-wide space rock known as 99942 Apophis. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 12 Sep. 2024

What’s missing from all this is the expert contextualization that a music critic might have provided, someone to elaborate on the unique way that John bridged ‘60s pop with ‘70s rock. —David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Sep. 2024

Verb

Remember, one piece of bold, high-quality content can rock the world in ways that dozens of forgettable posts cannot. —Renae Gregoire, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024

Beyoncé turned the volume to 100 for her brand new GQ cover, rocking several different hairstyles with tons of body and va-va-voom volume, a la the signature look of the Lonestar State. —Kara Nesvig, Allure, 10 Sep. 2024

Phrases Containing rock

• rock bottom