as in to play (on or upon)
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Recent Examples of jerk around
The shocking news out of this summer’s Olympic break-dancing competition in Paris wasn’t that a female Australian competitor had hopped and jerked around like Uma Thurman being revived from a drug coma in Pulp Fiction.
—
Christian Schneider, National Review, 24 Oct. 2024
Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons Category: Starter to star After a year where the former lottery pick was jerked around in regard to minutes, role, and even on-court responsibilities, Ivey is now set to enter his third year, finally with some stability attached to his name.
—Morten Stig Jensen, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024
The camera jerks around to emphasize the Captain’s growing panic.
—Terry Nguyen, Vulture, 19 May 2024
For a population like Gaza’s, there’s not enough food, people have been jerked around from place to place.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 8 May 2024
The guy in the center seat where the stringer was tied off noticed it was being jerked around.
—Idaho Statesman, 2 Mar. 2016
The design stopped us from being jerked around when dogs were pulling, and the padded handle was comfortable to grip, as well.
—Camryn Rabideau, Peoplemag, 16 Jan. 2024
One senses that these men are accustomed to being jerked around by the state.
—Alejandro Chacoff, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2023
Christian Schneider, National Review, 24 Oct. 2024
Jaden Ivey, Detroit Pistons Category: Starter to star After a year where the former lottery pick was jerked around in regard to minutes, role, and even on-court responsibilities, Ivey is now set to enter his third year, finally with some stability attached to his name.
—Morten Stig Jensen, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024
The camera jerks around to emphasize the Captain’s growing panic.
—Terry Nguyen, Vulture, 19 May 2024
For a population like Gaza’s, there’s not enough food, people have been jerked around from place to place.
—Isaac Chotiner, The New Yorker, 8 May 2024
The guy in the center seat where the stringer was tied off noticed it was being jerked around.
—Idaho Statesman, 2 Mar. 2016
The design stopped us from being jerked around when dogs were pulling, and the padded handle was comfortable to grip, as well.
—Camryn Rabideau, Peoplemag, 16 Jan. 2024
One senses that these men are accustomed to being jerked around by the state.
—Alejandro Chacoff, The New Yorker, 14 Mar. 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jerk around
Verb
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In more significant cases, scammers manipulate individuals into transferring large sums of money to fake people, scam accounts, or identity theft.—
Chris Gallagher,
USA TODAY,
25 Jan. 2025
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As Beckman's accomplice, Lau allegedly manipulated documents, including documents allegedly stolen from the venture capital firm that employed her while supposedly hiding her work for GameOn.—
Ashley Belanger,
Ars Technica,
24 Jan. 2025
Verb
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This unique, unchecked power was meant to be used sparingly, as a last resort to correct injustices in the system.—
Ron Faucheux,
Orlando Sentinel,
19 Jan. 2025
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Some influencers rebounded by using other social media options, primarily Instagram.—
Rebecca Schneid,
TIME,
19 Jan. 2025
Verb
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During the trial, charges of pimping a minor older than 17, human trafficking, pimping and pandering were dismissed along with sentencing enhancements for the personal use of a gun.—
City News Service,
Orange County Register,
8 Jan. 2025
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Two suits against Tim Ballard have already been dismissed and a third is headlined by a woman convicted of pimping minor children.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
22 Oct. 2024
Verb
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In short, Olivia functions as a digital health hub, leveraging AI to interpret complex health data.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes,
27 Jan. 2025
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Instead, sentencing must be based on standardized criteria, leveraging data to enable people to earn their freedom.—
Eddie DeLeon,
Hartford Courant,
27 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The remark was especially noteworthy since Breillat has been accused by two of her lead actresses, Caroline Ducey and Asia Argento, of mistreating them while filming explicit scenes.—
Victoria Uren,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
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Capturing soldiers is not technically a war crime, though mistreating them is, and experts in the rules around warfare agree that no grievance can justify holding anyone hostage, whether from civilian or military life.—
Kim Hjelmgaard,
USA TODAY,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The series concluded earlier in January after exploring how Grace, who was legally proven to be 21 years old, was abused by two adoptive families before finding her current fresh start with a new family, Vincent and Nicole DePaul.—
Jackie Strause,
The Hollywood Reporter,
27 Jan. 2025
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During the tantrum, the child verbally abuses the parent and also destroys property within the home.—
Samantha Mann,
Parents,
27 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near jerk around
Cite this Entry
“Jerk around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jerk%20around. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.
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