1
as in rough
marked by a series of sharp quick motions
made jerky progress walking with the new crutches
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in stupid
showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment
he's acting jerky just to get people's attention
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of jerky
An in-room menu from Ollie, which includes jerky treats and doggo ice cream (from Ollie’s collaboration with Van Leeuwen Ice Cream).
—
Chris Morris, Fortune, 10 July 2025
The 24-time major champion was unusually jerky in his movements.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Unlike conventional controllers, which produce distracting noise and jerky motion, ours enables slow, stable, and human-speed walking—even on stairs.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 May 2025
Jack Links Sour Cream and Onion Jerky, Hot Dill Pickle Beef Sticks
Coming January to most major grocery stores
Next year, jerky titan Jack Links is set to unveil a handful of new meat snacks including sour cream and onion jerky and spicy dill pickle beef sticks.
—Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for jerky
Chris Morris, Fortune, 10 July 2025
The 24-time major champion was unusually jerky in his movements.
—Tim Ellis, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025
Unlike conventional controllers, which produce distracting noise and jerky motion, ours enables slow, stable, and human-speed walking—even on stairs.
—IEEE Spectrum, 30 May 2025
Jack Links Sour Cream and Onion Jerky, Hot Dill Pickle Beef Sticks
Coming January to most major grocery stores
Next year, jerky titan Jack Links is set to unveil a handful of new meat snacks including sour cream and onion jerky and spicy dill pickle beef sticks.
—Bradley Hohulin, IndyStar, 16 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for jerky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jerky
Adjective
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But for that swing to be such a huge whiff, and then to be on stage playing your own protagonist while the excitement of the audience audibly wanes around you for two laborious hours … That’s rough, buddy.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
-
The more likely scenario, the NWS said, is that the storm stays farther offshore and South Florida’s biggest impact is rough surf starting Sunday.—
Alex Harris
Updated September 26,
Miami Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The real star of this episode, however, was Gretchen Christine Beauté and her stupid Lara Croft outfit.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
26 Sep. 2025
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Among the colorful cast of rogues, villains, queens and clergymen, Andre The Giant stands out as the young suitor’s kind-hearted but stupid brute.—
Duane Byrge,
HollywoodReporter,
25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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It’s been a rough couple of years and an uneven few weeks for the Broncos’ secondary, which often finds itself on the receiving end of criticism for surrendering big plays and big passing yards.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Sep. 2025
-
For the uninitiated, navigating the uneven streets in high heels is a balancing act.—
Abbey Hudetz,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Teenagers with faces painted green — some with blow up green sumo-wrestler suits — and mountains of silly string take over the streets.—
Manal Albarakati,
semafor.com,
22 Sep. 2025
-
What made the moment extra-special, though, was seeing Noah's silly side shine through.—
Daniella Gray,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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All in all, the winners in this choppy period for the office market won’t be passive buyers or those who are still casting a backward look at pre-2022 conditions; the winners will be strategic operators willing to step into the gaps created by CRE’s seismic shift.—
Greg Friedman,
Fortune,
19 Sep. 2025
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The model posed for the cameras on the red carpet before the show with uneven forehead bangs and choppy layers framing her face.—
Kaleigh Werner,
Footwear News,
19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This place belongs to the Carver, a deranged butcher who hunts anything foolish enough to enter.—
Meredith G. White,
AZCentral.com,
25 Sep. 2025
-
France had been humiliated in 1871 by Prussia in a foolish war of its own making, and Dreyfus, accused of passing military secrets to the Germans, was a convenient scapegoat in a time of national malaise.—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The first game famously took thirst-trap renditions of the Greek pantheon and imbued each figure with an insane amount of charm.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
27 Sep. 2025
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Starting the competition off with a bang with the cape and then moving right into killing the athleisure [challenge] was just insane.—
McKinley Franklin,
HollywoodReporter,
27 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Is Hinako mad, or is the world around her mad?—
Vincent Acovino,
NPR,
22 Sep. 2025
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Many teammates were rightfully mad.—
Eli Thompson,
Rolling Stone,
20 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Jerky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jerky. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
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