Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Full of hardship or trials: Characterized by difficulties, challenges, or instability.
   • Liable to rock; unsteady: Not firm or stable; likely to wobble or shake.
   • Abounding in rocks or stones: Containing many rocks; having a surface covered with stones.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • The company's path to profitability was long and rocky. (Describes a difficult process.)
  • Be careful on that rocky chair; it might tip over. (Describes something physically unsteady.)
  • We hiked across a rocky shoreline to reach the lighthouse. (Describes terrain full of rocks.)

Advanced Usage

• "rocky relationship": A romantic or personal relationship marked by frequent arguments, instability, or difficulties.
  • After a rocky start, their partnership became very strong.
• "rocky road": Literally, a path covered with stones. Figuratively, a course of action filled with obstacles.
  • The rocky road to recovery requires patience and support.

Variants and Related Words

• Rockily (adverb): In an unsteady or unstable manner.
  • The old wagon moved rockily down the trail.
• Rockiness (noun): The state or quality of being rocky (either full of rocks or unstable).
  • The rockiness of the soil made farming difficult.

Synonyms

• Difficult: Hard to accomplish or endure.
• Unstable: Not steady; prone to change or failure.
• Stony: Covered with or full of stones.

Related Phrases

• On rocky ground: In a precarious, unstable, or troubled situation.
  • Their agreement is on rocky ground after the recent dispute.
• Hit a rocky patch: To experience a period of difficulty or trouble.
  • Every marriage can hit a rocky patch now and then.

Adjective

1. full of hardship or trials
   • the rocky road to success
   • they were having a rough time
2. liable to rock
   • on high rocky heels
3. causing or characterized by jolts and irregular movements
   • a rough ride
4. abounding in rocks or stones
   • rocky fields
   • stony ground
   • bouldery beaches