jerk

jerk

verb

Definition of JERK

1

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 buck, hitch, hoick, jolt, twitch, yank

Related Words bump, jounce, lurch, pitch, stagger; jig, jiggle, jog, joggle, shake; drag, lug, pull, tug; pluck, tweak; grab, rip, snap (up), snatch, tear, wrench, wrest, wring

2

to make jerky or restless movements <you've got to quit jerking, or the barber will nick you by accident>

Synonyms fiddle, jerk, jig, jiggle, squiggle, squirm, thrash, thresh, toss, twist, twitch, wiggle, wriggle, writhe

Related Words flit, flutter, twitter; quake, quiver, shake, shiver, shudder, tremble; pace

Near Antonyms relax, rest, unwind; calm (down), still

3

to make a series of small irregular or violent movements <the car jerked with every shift of the gear>

Synonyms agitate, bucket, convulse, jerk, jiggle, joggle, jolt, jounce, judder [chiefly British], quake, quiver, shudder, vibrate, wobble (also wabble)

Related Words rock, sway, swing; chatter, quaver, shiver, thrill, tremble; twitch; dodder, waver; flicker, fluctuate, flutter, oscillate, undulate, wave; beat, palpitate, pit-a-pat, pitter-patter, pulsate, pulse, throb