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

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in stuns

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Deep underground, iron-rich rocks could hold the key to producing hydrogen at a fraction of the cost of conventional fuels. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 18 Oct. 2026 After Palestinian medics took Levine away, the attackers charged again and hit several journalists with rocks. — Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026 As night fell, police clashed with protesters in central Tirana, clearing streets littered with rocks as tear gas and smoke from burning trash bins filled the air. — ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026 The protest turned violent when a group of young people wearing masks hurled rocks at riot police, who responded with stun grenades, tear gas and a water cannon. — Reuters, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2026 On land, the researchers remotely guided it through a sandbox containing rocks and used light sensors to demonstrate autonomous steering toward a light source. — New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026 The scenery today, red rocks and flat mesas, could pass for Utah and our hike feels like a geologic safari with Nouri pointing out rock formations that resemble elephants and camels. — Jen Murphy, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Oct. 2026 Ties between the two countries remain strained over their long-running Himalayan border dispute, which erupted into a deadly skirmishes in 2020 that saw soldiers from both sides use rocks and iron rods in brutal hand-to-hand combat. — Helen Regan, CNN Money, 10 Oct. 2026 Dozens of protesters, most of them young and dressed in black with masks over their faces, were seen throwing rocks and firecrackers at police at the central Brussels railway station, The Associated Press reported. — James Cirrone, FOXNews.com, 9 Oct. 2026

Verb

More than 180 acts have been announced so far for Treefort, which rocks multiple venues across downtown Boise. — Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 15 Oct. 2026 This model rocks an odd (but welcome) 24GB of memory and a solid 512GB SSD. — Kelsey Fogarty, PC Magazine, 14 Oct. 2026 Her shrunken two-piece skirt suit—the jacket cropped to reveal her abs, the skirt extra-mini—perfectly encapsulated the cartoonish silhouette that Barbie so often rocks. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026 Linkin Park’s new documentary Unshatter, which rocks into theaters today, was originally set to be a traditional concert film. — Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 30 Sep. 2026 Amanda Seyfried rocks this soft yet vibrant blend of pink and orange tones, creating a warm, sunlit effect. — Amanda Le, InStyle, 1 Sep. 2026 Hot car death rocks New Jersey community Anyone can forget a child in a car, experts say. — Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 15 Aug. 2026 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for rocks

Noun

Highlights of the production will include a lifelike puppet portraying Toto, eight dancers taking flight (the most of any KC Ballet production) and ruby slippers adorned with 288 jewels.

— Dan Kelly October 15, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2026
Shoes also embraced a more playful and expressive spirit, with jewels, bows, flowers, bold prints and vibrant colors.

— Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of jewels

Verb

The set moves in and out, another set rolls over, and another is on a gimbal that sways as the whale moves.

— Lexy Perez, HollywoodReporter, 2 Oct. 2026
But forcing heavy steel trains onto a floating highway that rolls, sways, and shifts with the tides was widely considered an invitation to disaster.

— Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of sways

Verb

Near the epicenter, the agency estimated an intensity of VIII, classified as severe on the Modified Mercalli Intensity Scale, which measures how strongly the ground shakes at individual locations.

— Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 9 Oct. 2026
Core Power protein shakes, sold under the Fairlife brand, will be available in banana and strawberry beginning in January, the first new flavors in almost a decade.

— Mary Cunningham, CBS News, 5 Oct. 2026

Definition of shakes

Verb

Haslet Eaton stuns Keller Central Haslet Eaton upset Keller Central on Thursday, earning a 28-27 victory in a thriller.

— Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Oct. 2026
Innanen stuns as Paul Baker — full name all the time — a Canadian newcomer to the group who becomes integral to his friends’ emotional processing all while operating as the resident Gen-Z eye candy.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of stuns

Verb

Each step sends a ripple through the spongy, thin mat, a slow undulating motion beneath your feet that surprises the senses, disorienting yet simultaneously strangely delightful.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026
After more than 13 years of working together, Jordan rarely surprises me.

— Alla Adam, Forbes.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of surprises

Noun

French jewelry maison Boucheron was founded in 1858 and built a legacy of adorning royals, stars and magnates in jewelry that combines precious, rare gems with equally ingenious designs.

— Tanya Dukes, Robb Report, 12 Oct. 2026
Clear gems combine with hues of golden yellow, terracotta pink and stony blues and greens to shimmer against the black fabric.

— Erin Wisti, Footwear News, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of gems

Verb

The alternative is a region that lurches from crisis to crisis, and from one extreme to another.

— DAN RESTREPO, Foreign Affairs, 30 Sep. 2026
With a cigarette dangling from her lips, ashes and curse words ever ready to fall, Angela lurches around the house critical of everything and everyone.

— Jay Weissberg, Variety, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of lurches

Verb

Lucy’s constant sense of invention sometimes falters under the album’s new, megawatt spotlight, lacking the enticing mystery that gives their best music its power.

— H.D. Angel, Pitchfork, 8 Oct. 2026
Power play falters For the first time this season, the Oilers power play was a no-show, going 0-for-3 in the first period.

— Janson Duench, New York Times, 4 Oct. 2026

Definition of falters

Browse Nearby Words

rock-ribbed

rocks

rocky

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Rocks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/rocks. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of rocks

noun

verb

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