Entry Word: jerk

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 a person whose behavior is offensive to others <his constant rudeness and insensitivity made everyone think he was a real jerk>

Synonyms beast, boor, cad, churl, clown, creep, cretin, cur, heel, joker, louse, lout, skunk, slob, snake, stinker

Related Words brute, Neanderthal, savage; rascal, rogue, scamp, villain; fool, jackass, nincompoop, nitwit; blockhead, dolt, goon, idiot

Near Antonyms hero, idol, role model

2 the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force <guided the rowboat with a jerk of the rope> — see pull 1