lurch 1 of 2

verb

ˈlərch How to pronounce lurch (audio)
Definition of lurchnext
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1
as in to sway
to make a series of unsteady side-to-side motions the room lurched with every jolt of the earthquake

Synonyms & Similar Words

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2
as in to stagger
to move forward while swaying from side to side dressed in his zombie costume, the boy lurched down the street in his quest for Halloween candy

Synonyms & Similar Words

lurch

2 of 2

noun

as in washout

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 lurch
Verb
Wall Street has been lurching down and up in recent weeks as economic reports pushed traders to revamp their expectations about what the Fed will do with rates. — Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025 Pereira has only had four games in charge and his team have already lurched from one extreme to the other. — Tim Spiers, The Athletic, 6 Jan. 2025
Noun
The film lurches toward what could’ve been a great ending, the crisis of mother and daughter finally snapping into sharp and life-threatening focus, but instead leaves us hanging in the middle of the last sentence. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 14 Feb. 2025 City officials in New Haven thought they’d been left in the lurch after President Donald Trump called for a federal funding freeze last week. — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 8 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for lurch
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lurch
  1. sway
  2. stagger
  3. washout
  4. shake
  5. collapse
  6. rock
  7. upset
  8. fiasco
Verb
  • Recommended Safety As Trump proves unreliable, Europe rushes to firm up defenses on its own Saudi oil also gives the crown prince sway over the global supply of crude and its price.
    — Ned Temko, The Christian Science Monitor, 13 Mar. 2025
  • While that might be true for future presidents, Trump is not as swayed by public opinion as a second-term president, and a Congress ruled by the same party is much more willing to acquiesce to the demands of the executive.
    — Carrie Johnson, NPR, 12 Mar. 2025
Definition of sway
Verb
  • This contract meets the 10-year deferral requirement, and if the deferred payments are equally staggered over the 10 years, the second requirement would be met as well.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 11 Mar. 2025
  • Then, a choice of starters arrives slowly and staggered with wines accompanying them.
    — Rachel Dube, Forbes, 10 Mar. 2025
Definition of stagger
Noun
  • Rohit Sharma’s team are the only unit that have gained three wins from three, although there have been three washouts in the tournament which has prevented South Africa and the Baggy Greens from the possibility of matching them.
    — Tim Ellis, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025
  • Jim has been saying Nvidia shares need a washout event and alluded to that in an X post Friday.
    — Matthew J. Belvedere, CNBC, 28 Feb. 2025
Definition of washout
Verb
  • For some in the room, Paul’s rebellion reflected their deep unease over Trump’s protectionism, which has rattled stock markets, shaken consumer confidence, and strained America’s relationships with its allies.
    — Eric Cortellessa, TIME, 18 Mar. 2025
  • This structure has been shaken in less than three months of President Trump’s second administration.
    — Llewellyn King, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Mar. 2025
Definition of shake
Noun
  • Three people were injured following a wheelchair ramp collapse at The Knights of Columbus in Putnam on Saturday, according to the Putnam Fire Department.
    — Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 16 Mar. 2025
  • This results in outward energy balancing the inward push of gravity and halting the collapse.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of collapse
Verb
  • Given the current turmoil rocking the federal student loan system, the outcome of that legal challenge could be crucial for millions of student loan borrowers struggling with their repayment plans.
    — Adam S. Minsky, Forbes, 14 Mar. 2025
  • The Trump administration is focused on building an economy that is healthy for the long term and is less interested on the short-term volatility rocking the financial markets, Bessent said Thursday.
    — John Bacon, USA TODAY, 13 Mar. 2025
Definition of rock
Noun
  • This vast history includes countless Cinderella stories and enough results to reveal meaningful patterns in upsets and seeding trends.
    — Giovanni Malloy, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2025
  • The average number of upsets in each round since 1985: Why go 'big' on the March Madness final bet?
    — Jim Sergent, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025
Definition of upset
Noun
  • Their first evening there is a bit of a fiasco: They get swept into the orbit of a hedonistic couple (played by Roberto Aguire and Marianna Burelli), who turn out to be married to different people, and are rather aggressively predatory swinger types besides.
    — Dennis Harvey, Variety, 14 Feb. 2025
  • Amazon has rapidly built up its own logistics empire since a 2013 holiday fiasco left its packages stranded in the hands of outside carriers.
    — Annie Palmer, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2025
Definition of fiasco

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“Lurch.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lurch. Accessed 25 Mar. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on lurch

Nglish: Translation of lurch for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about lurch

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