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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of jerky
The actors moved in jerky spasms, replicating a quirk that film lovers would catch: after 1928, with the introduction of the talkies, silent films were almost always projected at the wrong speed.
—
David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
The contrast between the camera’s jerky motion and the languid, slow movements of the film’s subjects is striking.
—Gazelle Mba, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2025
Once sharks are processed into fillets or jerky, visual identification is nearly impossible, leaving loopholes in trade restrictions.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Customers will be able to find thousands of snack, meal and drink options, including homemade fudge, Beaver Nuggets, jerky and fresh pastries, when the location opens.
—Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for jerky
David Denby, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
The contrast between the camera’s jerky motion and the languid, slow movements of the film’s subjects is striking.
—Gazelle Mba, Artforum, 1 Nov. 2025
Once sharks are processed into fillets or jerky, visual identification is nearly impossible, leaving loopholes in trade restrictions.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Sep. 2025
Customers will be able to find thousands of snack, meal and drink options, including homemade fudge, Beaver Nuggets, jerky and fresh pastries, when the location opens.
—Dina Kaur, AZCentral.com, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for jerky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jerky
Adjective
-
The Frog Lake huts are remote structures miles from the Boreal Ski Resort and are in an area known for being prone to avalanches and difficult to reach in winter due to rough conditions, according to the Truckee Donner Land Trust.—
Noe Padilla,
USA Today,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Tricia Tuttle has had a rough week.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
But maybe Johnson isn’t stupid.—
Mark Z. Barabak,
Mercury News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Even in contemporary political and intellectual discourse, there remains an attachment to a particular stupid southern conservatism, the ideocratic confederacy.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This top is business in the front (the draped, halter neckline and uneven hem) and a party in the back (the open back).—
Katie Decker-Jacoby,
StyleCaster,
19 Feb. 2026
-
Researchers at Georgia Tech have developed a real-time planning and control framework that significantly improves how two-legged robots recover from sudden disturbances while walking on uneven or moving terrain.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Maybe the Pac-12 and Mountain West will look silly for not buying in, then watch as the NFC West bids against the Premier League and Marvel Cinematic Universe for the Hornets.—
Jason Kirk,
New York Times,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Since then, the fizzy dance challenge has exploded on TikTok, with tons of fans re-creating the clip’s silly dance moves in their kitchens, parking garages, living rooms, Times Square and hospital corridors.—
Gil Kaufman,
Billboard,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The shorter length is key, offering spring-enhancing levity without a choppier cut.—
Krista Carter,
InStyle,
17 Feb. 2026
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And the chronological structure of the script sometimes gives the play a choppy play-by-play feel.—
Pam Kragen,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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When federal policy creates an opportunity to bring additional resources into a state’s education ecosystem, leaders would be foolish to ignore it.—
Susana A. Mendoza,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The fear of looking foolish lasts a moment.—
Brendan Keegan,
Rolling Stone,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Your day-to-day life would be insane!—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
18 Feb. 2026
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Defense lawyers had argued during the trial that Taylor was legally insane at the time of the offense.—
Claire Osborn,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Pederson is something of a mad scientist with bats.—
Evan Grant,
Dallas Morning News,
14 Feb. 2026
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Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Emily Brontë’s beloved novel has been driving people mad since the project was first announced.—
Savannah Salazar,
Vulture,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jerky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jerky. Accessed 21 Feb. 2026.
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