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
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Recent Examples of jerk
Outside Online, 2 Apr. 2025
But this Ron Howard was an alternate universe version of Ron Howard, who instead of being notoriously nice, is sort of a jerk.
—Esther Zuckerman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2025
Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2025
This apparently spooked an SUV driver in the next lane, who jerked the wheel to the left and ran into the opposite curb.
—ArsTechnica, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jerk
Noun
But my soft palate being a lazy jerk is not the real culprit here.
—Outside Online, 2 Apr. 2025
But this Ron Howard was an alternate universe version of Ron Howard, who instead of being notoriously nice, is sort of a jerk.
—Esther Zuckerman, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2025
Verb
As soon as Tatiana Pino turned her dark blue Land Rover Defender into her long asphalt driveway, the flatbed truck jerked into reverse and slammed into the passenger side of her SUV, according to footage of the Aug. 30, 2023, hit-and-run obtained by the Herald.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2025
This apparently spooked an SUV driver in the next lane, who jerked the wheel to the left and ran into the opposite curb.
—ArsTechnica, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jerk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jerk
Noun
-
The tug served multiple purposes beyond moving lumber, including transporting railway cars.—
Todd Richmond,
Twin Cities,
16 May 2025
-
The tug was one of the largest and most powerful on the Great Lakes, with a 670-horsepower engine.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
16 May 2025
Verb
-
His childhood home in Dolton happened to be on the market on the day of his election, but it was quickly yanked off when the owner heard the exciting news.—
Natalia Senanayake,
People.com,
13 May 2025
-
The global economy had been yanked in every direction, nonstop, for weeks.—
Matteo Wong,
The Atlantic,
13 May 2025
Verb
-
Riley Robinson/Staff A wind blows down the border, twitching pale dry grass.—
Riley Robinson,
Christian Science Monitor,
6 May 2025
-
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
Verb
-
RuPaul's Drag Race All Stars 10 contestant Phoenix's drama with Ice Spice must've stirred too much after the season 3 queen clapped back against the guest judge's Main Stage critiques about her icon status, but the Drag Race OG hopes the rapper isn't too shaken in the aftermath.—
Joey Nolfi Published,
EW.com,
17 May 2025
-
What are we supposed to cling to when the ground is shaking?—
Amanda Petrusich,
New Yorker,
16 May 2025
Noun
-
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
-
According to LifeLine, the DeKalb shelter takes in 135 dogs a week on average.—
Jim Gaines,
ajc,
13 Sep. 2023
Noun
-
As model efficiency improves, the gravitational pull of hyperscale clusters weakens.—
Emil Sayegh,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
-
Such is the pull of this unassuming Midwestern city, where students, faculty, staffers and alumni migrate back and forth from the handsome University of Michigan campus to the nearby restaurants, shops and bars of Ann Arbor’s bustling downtown.—
Brandon Griggs,
CNN Money,
10 May 2025
Verb
-
And now that governments in many rich countries have sharply lurched to the right and taken more skeptical stances on aid, this industry is collapsing.—
Zainab Usman,
Foreign Affairs,
5 May 2025
-
German Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz was one of the first European leaders to grasp the long-term implications of the American lurch toward authoritarianism.—
David Axe,
Forbes.com,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But, during his walk to first, Williams tossed his bat aside and nodded his head.—
Chantz Martin,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2025
-
The tornado tossed a tree through the back windshield of Bernstein’s blue Chevrolet Cavalier but spared most other cars parked on the street.—
Miami Herald Archives,
Miami Herald,
10 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jerk. Accessed 25 May. 2025.
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