jerking

verb

Definition of jerkingnext
present participle of jerk
1
as in yanking
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

Relevance
2
as in twitching
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 shaking
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements the car jerked with every shift of the gear

Synonyms & Similar Words

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for jerking
  1. shaking
  2. pulling
  3. tossing
  4. vibrating
Verb
  • Symptoms like a fast heart rate, or shortness of breath, shaking and chills, confusion or lethargy.
    Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 24 Dec. 2024
  • Your ruler Mercury will also station retrograde in Sagittarius—your seventh house of partnerships—on November 9, revealing all the ways your desires for independence may be shaking things up with up your closest allies and enemies.
    Roya Backlund, StyleCaster, 23 Dec. 2024
Definition of shaking
Verb
  • An executive order, delivered Friday, cites national security concerns for pulling the deal.
    Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025
  • Advertisement The lawsuit comes as insurers have been pulling back from California’s home insurance market en masse, often citing the risk of catastrophic events brought on by climate change.
    Andrea Chang, Los Angeles Times, 3 Jan. 2025
Definition of pulling
Verb
  • After three consecutive drives ended in a punt following Rodgers’ interception, the 41-year-old led the Jets down the field, tossing his first touchdown pass since Week 16 and the 500th of his career.
    C. Isaiah Smalls II, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2025
  • Before tossing them in the trash, check in with your local homeless shelter, food pantry, or other non-profit as these organizations often have need for travel-sized toiletries.
    Patricia Shannon, Southern Living, 3 Jan. 2025
Definition of tossing
Verb
  • Not literal strings, of course—but tiny loops or snippets of vibrating energy.
    Tom Siegfried, JSTOR Daily, 19 Dec. 2024
  • Because everything is moving, everything vibrating in one great dance that is the act of becoming.
    Jennifer Harlan, New York Times, 13 Dec. 2024
Definition of vibrating
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near jerking

jerked around

jerking

jerking around

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Cite this Entry

“Jerking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jerking. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on jerking

Nglish: Translation of jerking for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of jerking for Arabic Speakers

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