1
as in bastards
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
his constant rudeness and insensitivity made everyone think he was a real jerk
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in tugs
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force
guided the rowboat with a jerk of the rope
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in yanks
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 twitches
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 shakes
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 jerks
Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
Moreover, where most clients are great, some are jerks.
—Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
The herks and jerks, the highs and lows, the lack of consistency that has summed up so much of McCarthy’s season reared their oft-ugly heads.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Instead, the Engel-Jackson family is more run-of-the-mill awful — a recognizable pack of self-serving jerks more focused on the appearance of cheer than any real kindness.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 12 Dec. 2025
That rich people sure can be easily manipulable jerks?
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
Gave the two jerks her very best.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Because even in a world of monsters, ghouls, and greedy jerks, the good guys still prevail.
—Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
But note that Bill and Ted aren’t jerks — watch Excellent Adventure now and you’ll be struck by how incredibly sunny its humor is.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2025
Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
The video suddenly jerks away as the vehicle starts to move and shots can be heard.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
The boy jerks his head as if to wake himself, turns around abruptly and looks the other way, even though there’s nothing special to see besides darkness and emptiness, which is where a living eye should never look.
—Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
Paul goes to shake her hand but jerks it back, then gives her a left-handed handshake.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
Smarmy jerks can get obscenely wealthy in this country just by managing other people’s money.
—Gilad Edelman, The Atlantic, 7 Feb. 2026
Moreover, where most clients are great, some are jerks.
—Kathy Kristof, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Jan. 2026
The herks and jerks, the highs and lows, the lack of consistency that has summed up so much of McCarthy’s season reared their oft-ugly heads.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Instead, the Engel-Jackson family is more run-of-the-mill awful — a recognizable pack of self-serving jerks more focused on the appearance of cheer than any real kindness.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 12 Dec. 2025
That rich people sure can be easily manipulable jerks?
—Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 14 Nov. 2025
Gave the two jerks her very best.
—Rachel Raposas, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
Because even in a world of monsters, ghouls, and greedy jerks, the good guys still prevail.
—Gwen Ihnat, Entertainment Weekly, 18 Oct. 2025
But note that Bill and Ted aren’t jerks — watch Excellent Adventure now and you’ll be struck by how incredibly sunny its humor is.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
Ross’s video does not show if the SUV made contact with him, as the camera angle jerks up to the sky.
—Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 12 Jan. 2026
The video suddenly jerks away as the vehicle starts to move and shots can be heard.
—Nicole Sganga, CBS News, 9 Jan. 2026
The boy jerks his head as if to wake himself, turns around abruptly and looks the other way, even though there’s nothing special to see besides darkness and emptiness, which is where a living eye should never look.
—Literary Hub, 10 Nov. 2025
Paul goes to shake her hand but jerks it back, then gives her a left-handed handshake.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jerks
Noun
-
As part of its support service to the Royal Navy, Serco intends to purchase 24 vessels, including a mix of ASD tugs, reverse-stern-drive tugs, pilot boats, barges, and crane barges, for which the contract was awarded to Dutch defence manufacturer Damen.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
13 Jan. 2026
-
These motorcycles were so well-built that they were even employed in both World Wars, mainly as dispatch bikes and sidecar tugs for the British armed forces.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
6 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Judy yanks Mikey’s roller trunk out of the mud and leads him toward one of the nearby hiking trails.—
Michael Nied,
PEOPLE,
26 Nov. 2025
-
Suddenly, someone in the audience yanks her violently into the screaming mass of people.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Persistent muscle twitches Everyone’s muscles twitch from time to time, usually at various locations.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
15 Jan. 2026
-
Some devices, for example, track eye movements or other small muscle twitches to let users select words from a screen.—
Emma R. Hasson,
Scientific American,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
When Dana peeks in and Robby simply shakes his head no?—
Maggie Fremont,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Thinking back to the days leading up to the 2025 Daytona 500, Sarah Turner Wells shakes her head in astonishment.—
Jordan Bianchi,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
That was so, so, so touching, going to a real hospital with the clowns.—
Georg Szalai,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Feb. 2026
-
Deep cherry red, black, and white come together to create a whimsical world of dice, cards, sad clowns, and a ticking pocketwatch.—
Samantha Brash,
InStyle,
8 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Carney is leading his own effort to form, in effect, a third superpower that can resist the gravitational pulls of both the United States and China.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
18 Feb. 2026
-
To make a statement with the hardware, Ballard suggests more artistic pulls.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
15 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When, at my photographer’s request, the president approaches the window of his office to open the blinds, his bodyguard lurches forward to close them.—
Simon Shuster,
The Atlantic,
12 Feb. 2026
-
Sometimes an unexpected event lurches family members into becoming caregivers.—
Briah Lumpkins,
Charlotte Observer,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The man fidgets, shifts around in his seat and fixates on Zarutska before pulling out a small knife and striking her multiple times around her neck.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
8 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Jerks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jerks. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
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