1
as in yanking
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
Relevance
2
as in twitching
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 shaking
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 jerking
The room sighs in relief a second later when Buckley reanimates, jerking and flailing like a soul possessed, grinning maniacally — all on purpose, inspired by the earlier veil snafu.
—
Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Feb. 2026
Some signs that the carburetor is clogged on a snow blower are starting then dying a few seconds afterward, jerking, sputtering noises, and black smoke emitting from the exhaust.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 1 Feb. 2026
The tear-jerking dramedy featured a breakthrough role for Emilia Jones, an Oscar-winning, scene-stealing turn by Troy Kotsur and a thoughtful narrative that took audiences into the personal lives of a deaf family with a single hearing member.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
That jerking motion, combined with detergent and water, loosens dirt from the surfaces of clothing.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2025
Sad to see Yang leave the comedy sketch series, viewers focused on saying their goodbyes rather than the tear-jerking sketch.
—Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 21 Dec. 2025
Cuddling on the couch quickly turns to Shane getting on top of Ilya yet again, this time jerking them both off.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
Avoid jerking your torso up and down during bent-over rows or swinging your arms during front, lateral, and rear raises.
—Jenessa Connor, Health, 24 Nov. 2025
But then the gang come through with an arsenal of fizzing fireworks, as does Dacre Montgomery’s Billy with a tear-jerking sacrifice.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2025
Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Feb. 2026
Some signs that the carburetor is clogged on a snow blower are starting then dying a few seconds afterward, jerking, sputtering noises, and black smoke emitting from the exhaust.
—David Beaulieu, The Spruce, 1 Feb. 2026
The tear-jerking dramedy featured a breakthrough role for Emilia Jones, an Oscar-winning, scene-stealing turn by Troy Kotsur and a thoughtful narrative that took audiences into the personal lives of a deaf family with a single hearing member.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026
That jerking motion, combined with detergent and water, loosens dirt from the surfaces of clothing.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 27 Dec. 2025
Sad to see Yang leave the comedy sketch series, viewers focused on saying their goodbyes rather than the tear-jerking sketch.
—Nicholas Rice, PEOPLE, 21 Dec. 2025
Cuddling on the couch quickly turns to Shane getting on top of Ilya yet again, this time jerking them both off.
—Tom Smyth, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
Avoid jerking your torso up and down during bent-over rows or swinging your arms during front, lateral, and rear raises.
—Jenessa Connor, Health, 24 Nov. 2025
But then the gang come through with an arsenal of fizzing fireworks, as does Dacre Montgomery’s Billy with a tear-jerking sacrifice.
—Radhika Seth, Vogue, 22 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jerking
Verb
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Hotel video footage showed the pair forcing entry into the hotel by yanking on a lobby door and breaking the lock.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
5 Feb. 2026
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The yellow bucket of a heavy construction excavator crashed down onto the roof of the vacant home at Parade Park, yanking it into a heap of split plaster and lumber.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
4 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But the Missouri was always a wild river twitching its bed from side to side across its flood plain.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
1 Feb. 2026
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Harnessing the camp of countless Drag Race acting challenges that came before her, Jujubee films a close-up reaction to a group of rowdy passengers reprimanding her, escalating the moment until her face is full-on twitching before a physical confrontation.—
Jillian Sederholm,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This new #earthquake shaking potential map from the California Geological Survey highlights the distribution of shaking hazard across #California.—
Graham Womack,
Sacbee.com,
15 Feb. 2026
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Her legs were physically shaking in her beginning pose.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The film is incredibly, even magnificently, stylish, but beyond its initial presentation, there just isn’t very much guiding the story in any novel or exciting ways — beyond, perhaps, thematic echoes of how the less prim-and-proper tech bros of today might be pulling a fast one too.—
Siddhant Adlakha,
Variety,
15 Feb. 2026
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Heimuli rebounded from the loss to Kouokam to beat Jessica Pyatt of El Paso Pebble Hills in a consolation semifinal, pulling Pyatt down with 15 seconds left in the second period and getting a pint five seconds later.—
Rick Kretzschmar,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Minimal but purposeful movement, avoiding fidgeting or excessive gestures, shows intention.—
Cheryl Robinson,
Forbes.com,
26 Jan. 2026
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Cole, wearing a khaki jumpsuit, spent much of the hearing sitting quietly and attentively as the parties argued, occasionally adjusting his glasses or fidgeting slightly in his chair.—
Gary Grumbach,
NBC news,
30 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Sat shuddering in my seat as the lights drew down.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
15 Feb. 2026
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Most of the camp was enclosed with an electrified fence, to keep out the Big Men, the massive, shuddering ursids that could not be named (more on that later).—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Dec. 2025
Verb
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Sure enough, a big rock upended from beneath my toe and sent me lurching headlong to the water.—
Bryan Hendricks,
Arkansas Online,
15 Feb. 2026
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Natanya complicates her old-school character sketch with cerebral shifts in perspective, affecting each of the voices that accompany a young woman’s drive for success and independence (demanding friends and parents, sexist expectations, her own willpower) in a lurching cascade of melodies.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
13 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The atmosphere at Guard and Grace Guard and his team scanned cities nationwide for the right spot to open the next Guard and Grace, eventually tossing aside Atlanta, Dallas, Chicago, Nashville and Miami in favor of Charlotte.—
Heidi Finley,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Feb. 2026
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To add more nuts to your diet, try tossing them in fruit bowls, salads, oatmeal, and more.—
Carrie Madormo,
Health,
19 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jerking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jerking. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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