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
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of jerk
Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 29 Dec. 2024
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
David Faris, Newsweek, 28 Dec. 2024
Dad nodded his approval again and the kid did as instructed, reflexively jerking his hand away as the starter began to churn the 117-cubic inch motor.
—William Roberson, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for jerk 
Noun
Rebecca is a big jerk to both of them on her way out, though Nathan is much kinder.
—Kimberly Roots, TVLine, 29 Dec. 2024
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
Verb
Previously the two were able to disable brakes, honk the horn, jerk the seat belt, and control the steering wheel using a laptop in the back of both a Toyota Prius and Ford Escape.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 28 Dec. 2024
Dad nodded his approval again and the kid did as instructed, reflexively jerking his hand away as the starter began to churn the 117-cubic inch motor.
—William Roberson, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for jerk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jerk
Noun
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For all the language about the transformative nature of the narcotic farms, they were hamstrung by federal policies reflecting the nation’s tug of war between treatment and punishment.—
TIME,
TIME,
10 Feb. 2025
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At other times, the vessels are pulled along by small tugs, by way of a long line.—
Matt Dutile,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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With Dexter Lawrence of the New York Jets, Tampa Bay’s Vita Vea and Seattle’s Leonard Williams anchoring the strength test, the AFC got yanked into a foam pit twice in a best-of-three event.—
Mark Long,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Feb. 2025
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In his defence, Chris knows that Min’s student visa is about to expire, and that his wealthy grandma (Youn Yuh-jung) is about to yank him back to Korea to take up a job in the family business.—
Damon Wise,
Deadline,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
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When a fish swims by, the snake twitches its neck, a movement so rapid that it can only be captured on high-speed film.—
Ryley Graham,
Smithsonian Magazine,
29 Jan. 2025
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In other words, the version of the Democratic Party that got killed in 2024 is still twitching.—
Philip Elliott,
TIME,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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My desire is stronger for us, even in just this country, to heal, and to talk, and to shake each other’s hands.—
Jonathan Bernstein,
Rolling Stone,
10 Feb. 2025
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Fill the spray bottle with lukewarm water and shake gently.—
Daley Quinn,
Southern Living,
8 Feb. 2025
Noun
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Responding officers found the dog, and advised the owner to take the dog in.—
cleveland,
cleveland,
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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Astronomers believe the flares are coming from the inner edge of the accretion disk just beyond the black hole’s event horizon, or the area around a black hole where the pull of gravity is so strong that not even light can escape, according to NASA.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN,
19 Feb. 2025
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So strong was the pull that Angus even got on a plane and came to New York City to serenade Elsbeth and end the hour with a kiss.—
Vlada Gelman,
TVLine,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
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After striking the barriers, the truck backed up, then lurched forward, striking the metal barriers a second time.—
Alexandra Koch,
Fox News,
26 Jan. 2025
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The dollar continued its long-running rise, as the expectation of higher interest rates in the United States maintained its allure for investors around the world, even as yields in other bond markets lurched higher.—
Joe Rennison,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The water on one side of the beach and the Pacific Coast Highway on the other help impede fire spread, but strong gusts—like last month’s infamous Santa Ana winds—can still toss embers and flaming debris across the highway.—
Monica Hunter-Hart,
Forbes,
16 Feb. 2025
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The day before the crash that took his life, BB tossed three touchdowns in a 64-6 rout of Custer County.—
Sean Keeler,
The Denver Post,
16 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near jerk
Cite this Entry
“Jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jerk. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
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