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
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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
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Recent Examples of jerk
Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
Dishes like jerk chicken and rice and beans cooked in coconut milk reflect the region’s deep Jamaican and British colonial influences that are distinctive from other parts of Costa Rica.
—Meghan Palmer, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Mar. 2026
Justin Chang, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
The clip on TikTok shows the seat jerking abruptly, apparently from forceful pushes by the person seated behind her.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for jerk
Noun
Dear Jay Norvell, try not to be a complete @#$&%# jerk.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 5 Apr. 2026
Dishes like jerk chicken and rice and beans cooked in coconut milk reflect the region’s deep Jamaican and British colonial influences that are distinctive from other parts of Costa Rica.
—Meghan Palmer, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Mar. 2026
Verb
We are jerked between past and present as his backstory gets filled in, one jogged memory at a time.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 13 Mar. 2026
The clip on TikTok shows the seat jerking abruptly, apparently from forceful pushes by the person seated behind her.
—Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 13 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for jerk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jerk
Noun
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These planetesimals interact, collide, smash one another apart and/or get stuck together, and gravitationally tug on one another.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Apr. 2026
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An all-in-one matte essential, this no-tug formula is infused with shea butter and jojoba oil, applying smoothly over fine lines on mature lips without dragging.—
Micaela English,
Glamour,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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County staff briefings with commissioners, as well as commissioner discussions at the dais, could result in some property tax funds getting yanked from the deal’s final framework.—
Nicolas Villamil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
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Soto yanked a ground ball through the right side, for a single.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
2 May 2026
Verb
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Pebbles twitched, branches waggled, cholla wiggled, weeds erupted then dried up and died.—
Alina Hartounian,
NPR,
20 Apr. 2026
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The launch can also be viewed on NASA's social media platforms include Facebook, twitch and X as well as NASA+, the agency's streaming service.—
Mary Kekatos,
ABC News,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Even with only two-thirds of the lower bowl of Grand Casino Arena filled, the cheers of relief from the fans when Morin scored the game-tying and game leading goals shook the arena as if the place was packed full.—
Staff Report,
Twin Cities,
9 May 2026
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Her daytime meals are pretty consistent and include yogurts, protein bars, protein shakes and protein pasta.—
Betty Lin-Fisher,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Noun
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The book's main character — Cheese — was inspired by her real-life rescue dog, who was known for chasing squirrels and bringing energy into her life.—
Wakisha Bailey,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
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By targeting a gene central to the molecular dysfunction and creating a novel system to deliver functional genetic instructions, High, Bennett and Maguire were able to move their therapy from the lab to experiments in dogs and finally to clinical trials in humans.—
Lauren J. Young,
Scientific American,
4 May 2026
Noun
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Subscribe now There could be no better example of the pull these franchises have among the local and Indian diaspora fan base than the Mittal family, whose roots are in the state of Rajasthan.—
Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
8 May 2026
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Instead of billet housing, Castaneda and his teammates bounced around from one Airbnb to the next, sleeping on couches, pull-out mattresses or the kitchen floor.—
Kenny Jacoby,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Verb
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Each assault count corresponds to a moment Mendoza Hernandez’s car lurched forward, about seven seconds apart.—
Scott Lebar. Story produced with AI assistance,
Sacbee.com,
7 May 2026
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These are some of the heaviest grooves that Seefeel have created in ages, channeling lurching currents through intricate chains of dub delay.—
Philip Sherburne,
Pitchfork,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Fittingly, Madden tossed the go-ahead touchdown pass from near the logo to a wide-open Kenneth Moore III, putting his blue team up 24-17, the eventual final score.—
Sean Campbell,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
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In the first case against Comey—the one that was tossed last year—DOJ managed to secure the indictment that Trump wanted by stretching the facts to conform to the law.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jerk. Accessed 10 May. 2026.
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