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
The group choreography is somehow both jerky and smooth, sprinkled with flashes of individual freestyle brilliance.
—
Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
Steer Smoothly Avoid sharp turns or jerky movements that can lead to skidding.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 25 Jan. 2025
The Delicious Darkness of Squid Game Food Tie-Ins Fast food, jerky, and whisky may seem worlds apart from the deadly stakes of Squid Game, but these tie-ins have tapped into the show's global resonance.
—Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Pair with a smorgasbord that includes sharp cheeses, jerky and fresh vegetables—cauliflower and broccoli.
—Tom Mullen, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jerky
Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
Steer Smoothly Avoid sharp turns or jerky movements that can lead to skidding.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 25 Jan. 2025
The Delicious Darkness of Squid Game Food Tie-Ins Fast food, jerky, and whisky may seem worlds apart from the deadly stakes of Squid Game, but these tie-ins have tapped into the show's global resonance.
—Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Pair with a smorgasbord that includes sharp cheeses, jerky and fresh vegetables—cauliflower and broccoli.
—Tom Mullen, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jerky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jerky
Adjective
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More Getty Images Clark, the 2023 U.S. Open champion, had a rough week.—
Devlina Sarkar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
15 June 2025
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Everyone plodded along, trying desperately to avoid rough that hasn’t been cut and greens that never seem to lose their speed.—
Doug Ferguson,
Los Angeles Times,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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This one is one person on the street obviously taking the soul of a protester who was stupid enough to go after some police officers.—
Armando Salguero OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
13 June 2025
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The pair will make stupid decisions, and viewers will likely wonder: would a girl like Paula really do that for a mess like Sloane?—
Lisa Kennedy,
Variety,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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Avoid wobbly or uneven fittings to keep everything centered.—
Elizabeth Fogarty,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 June 2025
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That means Juno’s radio transmissions will experience the Doppler effect, where the wavelength shifts slightly in response to Io’s uneven gravitational field.—
Robin Andrews,
Wired News,
15 June 2025
Adjective
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Jeff: This has been such a silly way to seed the in-season tournament.—
Jeff Gluck,
New York Times,
21 June 2025
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With stores across the state at one point, Vine had opened his first in 1950 and went on to become well-known across the state by appearing in his own silly but catchy commercials, sometimes with his wife.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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Just be aware that the water can get choppy, and the sea air is chilly even in the warmest months.—
Cu Fleshman,
Travel + Leisure,
21 June 2025
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The rest of the afternoon was choppy among all three indices.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
18 June 2025
Adjective
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Kent can often just look foolish onstage, sitting there idling.—
Nan Z. Da
June 10,
Literary Hub,
10 June 2025
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To write off the Israeli leader would be foolish, especially with new elections not required until late 2026.—
Yair Rosenberg,
The Atlantic,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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The nutrient can indeed help with all of those, but sometimes, the claims turn absurd.—
Lila Shroff,
The Atlantic,
20 June 2025
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The College World Series semifinals concluded Wednesday, allowing Houston Astros manager Joe Espada another chance to marvel at an absurd ascension.—
Chandler Rome,
New York Times,
20 June 2025
Adjective
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Tauruses will go crazy for something chic, functional, and soft to the touch.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
9 Feb. 2023
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Before getting into the chaos of episode 5, that episode 4 cliff hanger was crazy.—
Calie Schepp,
EW.com,
6 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Jerky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jerky. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.
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