jerk

¹jerk

noun \ˈjərk\

Definition of JERK

1

: a single quick motion of short duration

2

a : jolting, bouncing, or thrusting motions b : a tendency to produce spasmodic motions

3

a : an involuntary spasmodic muscular movement due to reflex action b plural : involuntary twitchings due to nervous excitement

4

a : an annoyingly stupid or foolish person b : an unlikable person; especially : one who is cruel, rude, or small-minded

5

: the pushing of a weight from shoulder height to a position overhead in weight lifting

Examples of JERK

1. That jerk can't do anything right.
2. Most of the kids are nice, but some are jerks.
3. The dead branch came loose after a few jerks.
4. He felt the jerk of the line as a fish took the bait.
5. The car started with a jerk.

Origin of JERK

probably alteration of yerk

First Known Use: 1575

Related to JERK

Synonyms: 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, son of a gun

Antonyms: push

Related Words: barbarian, brute, caveman, Neanderthal, savage; loudmouth, vulgarian; lowlife, miscreant, rascal, rogue, roughneck, scab, scamp, scoundrel, villain, wretch; booby, doofus [slang], fool, jackass, nincompoop, ninny, nit [chiefly British], nitwit, nut, schmo (or schmoe) [slang]; airhead, birdbrain, blockhead, dink [slang], dolt, dope, dork [slang], goon, half-wit, idiot, imbecile, moron, turkey; brat, insolent, nuisance, pest, snip; snob, snoot, snot; dweeb [slang], nerd

Near Antonyms: hero, heroine, idol, role model; gentleman, lady; angel, saint

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Rhymes with JERK

burke, Burke, chirk, cirque, clerk, dirk, irk, kirk, lurk, murk, perk, quirk, shirk, smirk, stirk, Turk, work, yerk, zerk