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
Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 4 Feb. 2026
A little less rustic but equally inviting, Pimms serves jerk chicken and Caribbean red fish curry next to breezy curtains and soaring arches.
—Jennifer Flowers, AFAR Media, 30 Jan. 2026
Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
Resist the urge to jerk the steering wheel in the opposite direction.
—Jamie Landers, Dallas Morning News, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for jerk
Noun
Bahama Breeze, according to its online menu, features many seafood dishes, with items like coconut shrimp, mahi mahi and seafood paella alongside beef empanadas and whole Jamaican jerk wings.
—Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 4 Feb. 2026
A little less rustic but equally inviting, Pimms serves jerk chicken and Caribbean red fish curry next to breezy curtains and soaring arches.
—Jennifer Flowers, AFAR Media, 30 Jan. 2026
Verb
Instead of slowing down when the vehicle in front of their car slows, these reckless people jerk suddenly into an adjacent lane.
—Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Jan. 2026
Resist the urge to jerk the steering wheel in the opposite direction.
—Jamie Landers, Dallas Morning News, 21 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for jerk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jerk
Noun
-
In the seven days leading up to the giant slalom competition, Pinheiro Braathen kept feeling a tug, as if the universe was trying to tell him something.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
This reaction only happens when a massive population feels the tug of emotion all at the same time.—
Frederick Dreier,
Outside,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The National Institutes of Health, part of HHS, also yanked dozens of research grants supporting studies of vaccine hesitancy last year.—
Amanda Seitz,
NPR,
13 Feb. 2026
-
No agents of the state will yank you out of a stadium for bopping along to this!—
Alexandra Petri,
The Atlantic,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Baby Briana’s arms twitched and legs flopped against cold concrete.—
Jayme Fraser,
USA Today,
4 Feb. 2026
-
Through the scope, a polar bear twitched on the ice, 25 yards in front of me.—
Scott Haugen,
Outdoor Life,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
As information has slowly revealed more about the ski trip and those who died in the devastating avalanche, grief has shaken communities across the region.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Knight shook her head and reiterated that this was indeed her final Olympic game.—
Michael Russo,
New York Times,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Pet stations and small lawns for playing are located on both the north and south ends of the resort, and dogs can always hang out on the pool deck (but can’t swim) or at the private beach.—
Tara Massouleh McCay,
Southern Living,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Your dog's bowl should be at least a bit taller than the planter, so that your dog can easily drink from it.—
Sophia Beams,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Influence That Extends Beyond Fashion LISA’s cultural pull isn’t theoretical.—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
19 Feb. 2026
-
The Texas Jazz Cats will play live music, and there will be a silent auction and a wine pull.—
Travis Pinson,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
After a moment of hesitation, Harington lurches forward and plants a passionate kiss on Turner, who responds in kind.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Brant, who was elected in a special election in August, inherited an office already in disarray, in a county that has spent the past year lurching from one government crisis to the next.—
Nick El Hajj,
Des Moines Register,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Once made of glass and cherished by parade spectators who were lucky enough to catch them, today cheap plastic beaded necklaces from overseas are tossed from floats by the handful.—
TRAVIS LOLLER,
Arkansas Online,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The military stomp of the score is so tied up in the conception of Superman as an ultra-powerful Eagle Scout that the theme had to be tossed entirely when directors wanted to add a few layers of grime onto the character in the 2010s.—
Alex Galbraith,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jerk. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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