1
as in bastard
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
his constant rudeness and insensitivity made everyone think he was a real jerk
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
1
as in to yank
to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion
I jerked to one side to avoid getting hit jerked the leash to get the dog's attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to twitch
to make jerky or restless movements
you've got to quit jerking, or the barber will nick you by accident
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to shake
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements
the car jerked with every shift of the gear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of jerk
Jessica Swirble, Verywell Health, 17 Jan. 2025
Among the new food items on sale during the Seven Seas Food Festival will be Jamaican jerk chicken and pork pincho at the Caribbean Market; garlic toast chicken parmigiana (Italian Market), strawberry pouffe (Irish Market) and veggie samosas (Indian market).
—Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 15 Jan. 2025
Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2024
At night, my arm and leg began jerking, waking me from uneasy sleep.
—Katie Gutierrez, TIME, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for jerk 
Noun
Symptoms include: Hallucinations or delusions Increased heart rate Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
Dizziness
Muscle jerks
Sweating or flushing
Seizures
Effexor is not approved for children but is sometimes used off-label for anxiety and depression disorders.
—Jessica Swirble, Verywell Health, 17 Jan. 2025
Among the new food items on sale during the Seven Seas Food Festival will be Jamaican jerk chicken and pork pincho at the Caribbean Market; garlic toast chicken parmigiana (Italian Market), strawberry pouffe (Irish Market) and veggie samosas (Indian market).
—Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
After several seconds, the man jerked up as if on springs, back from the edge of death.
—Steve Lopez, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2024
At night, my arm and leg began jerking, waking me from uneasy sleep.
—Katie Gutierrez, TIME, 19 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for jerk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jerk
Noun
-
Offerings include arts and crafts, caber toss, the haggis hurl, sheaf toss and tug of war in a non-competitive environment.—
Patrick Connolly,
Orlando Sentinel,
17 Jan. 2025
-
Investors expect volatility in the flagship cryptocurrency this year, with bitcoin stuck in a tug of war between investors’ concerns about rising inflation under Trump and their optimism over the his pro-crypto leadership.—
Tanaya Macheel,
CNBC,
16 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
However, Participant Media requested the festival yank the film from its lineup after learning that director Joseph submitted a new, secret cut to Sundance and other global fest’s without the media company’s knowledge.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
26 Jan. 2025
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As things escalated, the attacker yanked out a machete intending to attack his rival’s dog — but the victim stepped in to protect his pooch, cops said.—
Nicholas Williams,
New York Daily News,
26 Jan. 2025
Verb
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As the omen begins to descend onto Karen’s house, the hairs of the mermaids’ arms stand up; their scales twitch in fear.—
Shamira Ibrahim,
Vulture,
16 Dec. 2024
-
Not the American economy, which twitched from panic to triumph to panic and, in 1907, had to be bailed out with private funds from Morgan and his associates.—
Jackson Arn,
The New Yorker,
21 Nov. 2024
Verb
-
The coach reportedly failed to shake hands with the coaches of Denver Torah.—
Ryan Gaydos,
Fox News,
29 Jan. 2025
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Video surveillance footage from inside the St. Paul Saloon showed Pickens shaking hands with Brown, then immediately making a phone call to Moore and tipping him off of Brown’s whereabouts.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
28 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
According to LifeLine, the DeKalb shelter takes in 135 dogs a week on average.—
Jim Gaines,
ajc,
13 Sep. 2023
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The remains were found by two men who were running their dogs and looking for rocks, according to DNASolves.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
13 Sep. 2023
Noun
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Apart from its versatility, the librarian cut's real pull comes down to its individuality and making a feature of the heft a cowlick offers.—
Fiona Embleton,
Glamour,
25 Jan. 2025
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As Mintel points out, nostalgia adds an extra layer of emotional pull.—
Stephanie Gravalese,
Forbes,
22 Jan. 2025
Verb
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With a little modulation in either mode, the throttle is responsive without lurching.—
Kristin Shaw,
Forbes,
13 Jan. 2025
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But Fleming And John play their unholy hybrid with absolute conviction, the drums thundering and guitars lurching as Fleming McWilliams howls out her best Robert Plant.—
Marc Hirsh,
Vulture,
21 Dec. 2024
Verb
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One of several civil lawsuits filed in New York claiming that two brothers considered titans in the luxury real estate industry raped a woman as a third brother watched, was tossed by a federal judge Wednesday.—
Charles Rabin,
Miami Herald,
23 Jan. 2025
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Seeing a player with the chops of Hideki Matsuyama, the 2021 Masters champion with 11 Tour wins, ranked No. 4 in the world, tossed about like a rag doll on the North Course.—
Bryce Miller,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near jerk
Cite this Entry
“Jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jerk. Accessed 2 Feb. 2025.
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