1
as in bastard
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
his constant rudeness and insensitivity made everyone think he was a real jerk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
1
as in to yank
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
2
as in to twitch
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 to shake
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements
the car jerked with every shift of the gear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of jerk
New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2025
What a jerk! Neagley fares better, dispatching two button men sent to kill her in her Windy City high-rise office.
—Chris Klimek, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
Quispe López, Them, 12 Mar. 2025
Avoid jerking the valve or forcing it to turn, as this could cause the valve to break off.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jerk
Noun
But dangerous jerks like Bobby Kennedy have made lucrative businesses of sowing doubt.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 21 Feb. 2025
What a jerk! Neagley fares better, dispatching two button men sent to kill her in her Windy City high-rise office.
—Chris Klimek, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
While there are a slew of ways to pleasure yourself depending on these three factors, there are some basic tips that can be a helpful starting point, like how to finger yourself and how to jerk off.
—Quispe López, Them, 12 Mar. 2025
Avoid jerking the valve or forcing it to turn, as this could cause the valve to break off.
—Timothy Dale, Better Homes & Gardens, 11 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jerk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jerk
Noun
-
Duke of Cornwall) watched a team building exercise — tug of war! — and met with young farmers making up the next generation.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
26 Mar. 2025
-
There’s a kind of implicit prayer in this that the withering of today’s Hollywood system is a presage for something better, giving the entire production a painful, nostalgic quality that tugs at your chest even as what unfolds before you is remarkably dumb.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
Soon thereafter, starving, Cage yanks the dead rat from the ground and holds it to his teeth, about to take a bite.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
2 May 2025
-
Donald Trump is yanking federal funds from public media.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
2 May 2025
Verb
-
If their tail starts twitching or their ears are flattened, then they may be overstimulated, which can lead to aggression.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
-
Real Estate As Ballast Against Market Turbulence Why does Manhattan real estate hold up while other assets twitch?—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
The United States Geological Survey reports that light shaking could be felt as far southeast as Bursa, which is approximately 97 miles south of Istanbul.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
-
In 2023, Turkey experienced one of the world's most deadly quakes, a 7.8 magnitude event that shook southern Turkey and northern Syria, killing more than 55,000 people.—
Ross Rosenfeld,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Responding officers found the dog, and advised the owner to take the dog in.—
cleveland,
cleveland,
13 Sep. 2023
-
Police brought in hundreds of law enforcement personnel with dogs, armored carriers, horses and helicopters that circled overhead.—
Maryclaire Dale, Marc Levy and Michael Rubinkam,
Anchorage Daily News,
13 Sep. 2023
Noun
-
Laura arrives there to rebuild her life, but the irresistible pull of quick money and crime immediately draws her back into a troubled past.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
1 May 2025
-
Liman complained that the rug pull left people without compensation, though it was reported that Liman was offered a higher budget in exchange for making the film for streaming.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Many young people then in high school may not have lost so much faith in institutions; some may not have lurched so dramatically to the political right.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2025
-
His unsteady performance has left markets lurching from one crisis to another, and his contempt for tradition continues to rattle both Washington institutionalists and Wall Street investors.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Just keep in mind that not all finishes are dishwasher safe, so check before tossing it in.—
Melanie Fincher,
Southern Living,
30 Apr. 2025
-
Heat president Pat Riley has always sought to follow up a big splash by tossing another boulder into the pond.—
Jared Weiss,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jerk. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share