jerk

1 of 3

noun

ˈjərk 

1

a

: an annoyingly stupid or foolish person

was acting like a jerk

b

: an unlikable person

especially : one who is cruel, rude, or small-minded

a selfish jerk

2

: a single quick motion of short duration

a sudden jerk

gave the handle a jerk

3

a

: jolting, bouncing, or thrusting motions

b

: a tendency to produce spasmodic motions

4

a

: an involuntary spasmodic muscular movement due to reflex action

b

jerks plural : involuntary twitchings due to nervous excitement

5

: the pushing of a weight from shoulder height to a position overhead : the second phase of the clean and jerk in weight lifting

jerk

2 of 3

verb (1)

jerked; jerking; jerks

transitive verb

1

: to give a quick suddenly arrested push, pull, or twist to

jerk a rope

2

: to propel or move with or as if with a quick suddenly arrested motion

jerked the door open

3

: to mix and serve (drinks, such as sodas) behind a soda fountain

intransitive verb

1

: to make a sudden spasmodic motion

Her hand jerked up suddenly.

2

: to move in short abrupt motions or with frequent jolts

jerker noun

jerk

3 of 3

verb (2)

jerked; jerking; jerks

transitive verb

: to preserve (meat) in long sun-dried slices

Synonyms

Noun

• bastard
• beast
• bleeder [British]
• blighter [chiefly British]
• boor
• bounder
• bugger
• buzzard
• cad
• chuff
• churl
• clown
• creep
• cretin
• crud [slang]
• crumb [slang]
• cur
• dirtbag [slang]
• dog
• fink
• heel
• hound
• joker
• louse
• lout
• pill
• rat
• rat fink
• reptile
• rotter
• schmuck [slang]
• scum
• scumbag [slang]
• scuzzball [slang]
• skunk
• sleaze
• sleazebag [slang]
• sleazeball [slang]
• slime
• slimeball [slang]
• slob
• snake
• so-and-so
• sod [chiefly British]
• stinkard
• stinker
• swine
• toad
• varmint
• vermin

Verb (1)

• buck
• hitch
• hoick
• jolt
• twitch
• yank

Examples of jerk in a Sentence

Noun

That jerk can't do anything right.

Most of the kids are nice, but some are jerks.

The dead branch came loose after a few jerks.

He felt the jerk of the line as a fish took the bait.

The car started with a jerk.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

According to the league's website, an exemplary Indy City Futbol player is one who is enthusiastic; has a positive and welcoming attitude to people from all backgrounds, religions, orientations and experiences; is teachable; and is willing to stand up to or alert the league to bullies and jerks. —Alexandria Burris, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Apr. 2024

Isaac plays Davis as a couch-surfing, unlikable, self-loathing jerk. —Tim Moffatt, EW.com, 26 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb (1)

probably alteration of yerk

Verb (2)

back-formation from jerky entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1575, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb (1)

1589, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Verb (2)

1707, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing jerk

• clean and jerk
• give (something) a jerk
• jerk around
• jerk off
• knee jerk
• soda jerk

Kids Definition

jerk

1 of 3 noun

ˈjərk 

1

: a short quick pull or twist : twitch

2

: an involuntary muscular movement or spasm

3

: an annoyingly stupid or foolish person

jerk

2 of 3 verb

1

: to give a short quick push, pull, or twist to

2

: to move in jerks or with a jerk

jerk

3 of 3 verb

: to preserve (meat) in long strips dried in the sun

Etymology

Verb

probably an altered form of earlier yerk "to beat or thrash"

Verb

from ¹jerky

Medical Definition

jerk

noun

ˈjərk 

: an involuntary spasmodic muscular movement due to reflex action

especially : one induced by an external stimulus see knee jerk