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
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
His profession is to be the screaming jerk on reality shows, and his house burns down.
—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 May 2026
Dolores Brown,
Outdoor Life,
17 June 2026
Although not all the novel’s major characters make it to the end of this uplifting yet tear-jerking work of historical fiction, Six-Thirty safely perseveres.
—
Camille Perri,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for jerk
Noun
The addition of smoky mezcal, bright citrus from Cointreau, and warming jerk bitters captures the spirit of these celebrations.
—
Kate Bradshaw,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
His profession is to be the screaming jerk on reality shows, and his house burns down.
—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 May 2026
Verb
Suddenly, the tent jerked and wobbled.
—
Dolores Brown,
Outdoor Life,
17 June 2026
Although not all the novel’s major characters make it to the end of this uplifting yet tear-jerking work of historical fiction, Six-Thirty safely perseveres.
—
Camille Perri,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for jerk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jerk
Noun
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What breaks my heart is that Vermax’s cries sounded like a dog crying, a dog dying.
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Roughly the size of a large dog and weighing more than 110 pounds (50 kilograms), the quadruped robot is designed to navigate industrial facilities that include staircases, narrow walkways, uneven surfaces, and confined spaces.
Noun
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If all goes well, Katalyst's space tug (it's called Link) will lift the Swift observatory into a higher, safer orbit — one that will add years of life to the aging space telescope's mission.
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The clash between the two dynamics — one extolling beauty, the other detailing gruesome crimes — makes for an oil-vinegar mix that speaks to the tug of war women experience between using the beauty versus their brains.
Verb
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Within days of its release, Anthropic’s most sophisticated public AI model was abruptly yanked from customers.
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With two outs and a runner on, Sasaki yanked a splitter to the inside edge of the strike zone to Gunnar Henderson, who lifted it over the wall in right field.
Verb
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There is something cultish about that idea — the player who tends not to start but has the knack to appear later on with antennae twitching, ready to seize the day and alter the course of a match.
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Leon Stetson was allegedly twitching, so officers moved him away from Carrie Stetson and started to render medical aid.
Verb
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The early goal from Germany was a bit demoralizing for the South American team, but Nilson Angulo was able to shake it off with a beautiful shot in the ninth minute to equalize.
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Any worries about complacency were wiped away in the third minute when Auston Trusty fired home the opening goal and caused the stands at SoFi Stadium to shake (literally) with the noise and jumping fans.
Noun
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The island village is beset by sea hags, serial killers, creepy clowns and other evils that interfere with Tom’s dream of turning Widow’s Bay into a Martha’s Vineyard-like tourist destination.
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Even the announcers are laughing at the clown Way to swing the bat.
Noun
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Irwin, who is the sister of former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Trent Irwin, recorded 94 flag pulls and 15 interceptions as a safety.
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Anderson has said the body double acts as a kind of calmer mirror, and that the distracted person feels a quiet pull not to waste the other person’s time.
Verb
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The old guard of the Democratic Party suffered another body blow when three socialist congressional candidates in New York with anti-Israel platforms swept to victory, lurching the party even further to the left.
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Initial data indicates both of these earthquakes were strike-slip, Magnani said, meaning one plate lurched past the other along the boundary.
Cite this Entry
“Jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jerk. Accessed 29 Jun. 2026.
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