rocky

1 of 2

adjective (1)

rockier; rockiest
1
: abounding in or consisting of rocks
2
: difficult to impress or affect : insensitive
3
: firmly held : steadfast

rocky

2 of 2

adjective (2)

rockier; rockiest
1
2
: physically upset or mentally confused (as from drinking excessively)
3
: marked by obstacles or problems : difficult, rough
a financially rocky yearMichael Murray

Examples of rocky in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Instead, Ferrell lets the uncertainty loom, like a dark cloud obscuring a rocky shoreline. Stephen Deusner, SPIN, 25 Mar. 2024 The bird thrives in mountains and other rocky areas near forests, swooping down at night to hunt rodents, rabbits and other prey. Ed Shanahan, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2024 Avoid walking through tall grass, rocky areas or other places where snakes may hide. The Arizona Republic, 23 Mar. 2024 Despite their rocky relationship, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are wishing the Princess of Wales well. Sara Vallone, Miami Herald, 22 Mar. 2024 The company has had a rocky few years navigating the fallout of its partnership with rapper Kanye West and his lucrative Yeezy sneaker line. Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 22 Mar. 2024 The appointment of Mitchell ends an arduous, often rocky process to fill a position left vacant when Thao fired previous police chief LeRonne Armstrong in early 2023. Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 22 Mar. 2024 The two sisters had a rocky relationship, with Houghton alleging in a 2013 interview that Jenner had changed after becoming famous, but Jenner remembered her sibling fondly in the post. Jack Guy, CNN, 20 Mar. 2024 One day, the researchers note, these same type of advancements could possibly even aid in space exploration robots traversing harsh, rocky surfaces of the moon and other planets. Popular Science, 14 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rocky.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective (1)

Middle English rokky, from rokke rock

Adjective (2)

rock entry 1

First Known Use

Adjective (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective (2)

1737, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rocky was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near rocky

Cite this Entry

“Rocky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rocky. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rocky

1 of 2 adjective
rockier; rockiest
: full of or consisting of rocks
rockiness noun

rocky

2 of 2 adjective
rockier; rockiest
1
: weak and confused and unsteady on one's feet
2
: marked by obstacles or problems : difficult
a rocky start
rockiness
-ē-nəs
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on rocky

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