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
Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 20 May 2026
Here, witches are real — and so are jerks.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
This was just the beginning of us young anarchists becoming judgmental jerks.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2026
In the new sequel, Grace teams with her estranged younger sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton), as they’re hunted by four elite families full of murderous jerks scrambling to become the High Seat of a Council that controls the world.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
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
Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
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
Noun
To relitigate the matter on behalf of Musk only served to underline the conviction that all of these jerks deserved one another.
—Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 20 May 2026
Here, witches are real — and so are jerks.
—Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2026
This was just the beginning of us young anarchists becoming judgmental jerks.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 7 Apr. 2026
In the new sequel, Grace teams with her estranged younger sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton), as they’re hunted by four elite families full of murderous jerks scrambling to become the High Seat of a Council that controls the world.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 21 Mar. 2026
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
Verb
In a viral video of the aftermath, the robot jerks back and forth to shake the glass off, showering yet more dangerous shards onto the sidewalk.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
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
-
Grotesque sea hags, killer clowns, demonic self-help books and more plague the town and its mayor, Tom Loftis (Matthew Rhys).—
Erik Kain,
Forbes.com,
29 May 2026
-
The four paintings are Joan Miró’s Composition (1953), Maurice Utrillo’s Maison de rendez-vous de chasse de Henri IV, rue Saint-Vincent, Montmartre (1934), Balthus’s Etude pour femme couchée (1948), and Pablo Picasso’s L’Ecuyere et les clowns (1961).—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
6 May 2026
Noun
-
Its tech is being used to power the world’s first electric tugs that are about to go into service at the Port of Long Beach, under a deal worth $160 million announced in late 2025.—
Alan Ohnsman,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
Some companies are designing tugs that could boost missions from their drop-off orbits to higher altitudes, potentially even to the Moon or beyond the Solar System.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
19 May 2026
Verb
-
Like a false note on an out-of-tune piano, a clunky verb, a sentence without rhythm, yanks the reader out the flow of the work.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Maden takes thee wine bottle from him and the officers reach for his wrists but Brown resists and yanks his arms back, the video shows.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
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
-
Beside her, the dog shakes itself, droplets flying from it, then fixes her with an appraising gaze.—
Maggie O’Farrell,
Literary Hub,
2 June 2026
-
The Moon, planet of our emotions, lifts your 10th House of Career, while innovative Uranus shakes your 4th House of Home and Family.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
The 10-week-old Boxer has since been treated for Parvovirus — a highly contagious and potentially fatal viral illness that primarily affects young puppies and unvaccinated dogs — in the organization's specialized ICU and is available for adoption at the Sunnyslope Campus in Phoenix.—
Desiree Anello,
PEOPLE,
8 June 2026
-
Dog dumping has become such a problem that the Hartford Animal Shelter in partnership with the Hartford Police Department said it may be forced to start euthanizing healthy dogs as the shelter reaches capacity.—
Stephen Underwood,
Hartford Courant,
8 June 2026
Noun
-
Paint the walls, opt for an interesting wallpaper pattern, replace the toilet and vanity, swap out tacky old hardware for stylish knobs and pulls, and install new light fixtures.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
9 June 2026
-
Schrader suggests wiping down cabinetry knobs or pulls, light switches, and doorknobs at least once a month to make your home more sanitary.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
The film unhurriedly lurches from one markedly similar fight scene to the next, with only Skeletor’s occasional injections of ripe innuendo to liven them up a bit.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
2 June 2026
-
By the end, Noonan’s film stops feeling like a first date and starts to resemble the makings of a crime scene as his mood lurches toward something dangerous.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jerks.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jerks. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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