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
Go slowly in a standard car or get your hands on a four-wheeled-drive vehicle for this jerky ride.
—
Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
His steps were short, and the movement of his body was jerky, like a hamster’s.
—Caleb Crain, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Stress, excitement or tiredness can set off an unwanted, uncontrollable volley of sudden jerky movements and/or a spew of four-letter and other words.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2026
One-pedal driving, where the motors regeneratively brake in proportion to the amount the driver lifts their foot from the throttle pedal, is far too jerky and abrupt, particularly to initial inputs.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for jerky
Madison Chapman, Outside, 25 Mar. 2026
His steps were short, and the movement of his body was jerky, like a hamster’s.
—Caleb Crain, Harpers Magazine, 24 Mar. 2026
Stress, excitement or tiredness can set off an unwanted, uncontrollable volley of sudden jerky movements and/or a spew of four-letter and other words.
—Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2026
One-pedal driving, where the motors regeneratively brake in proportion to the amount the driver lifts their foot from the throttle pedal, is far too jerky and abrupt, particularly to initial inputs.
—Jonathan M. Gitlin, ArsTechnica, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for jerky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jerky
Adjective
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The suspension control software from their high-performance cars has enabled Ferrari to develop an algorithm to keep the boat stable, Ribigini adds, which will be vital at all times, but particularly in rough seas and strong winds.—
Andrew Rice,
New York Times,
7 May 2026
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Krejczyk and Gagen, meanwhile, are enjoying a season that started rough but has gotten better.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan and Iran — theyr’e not stupid.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
3 May 2026
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That was celebrated by the lefties as liberation, or something stupid like that.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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This not only suppressed uneven vertical phase distribution but also improved film uniformity across the devices.—
Georgina Jedikovska,
Interesting Engineering,
7 May 2026
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Many buildings predate modern standards, leaving visitors to navigate stairs, uneven terrain, or sites that simply can’t be reached without significant retrofitting.—
Daniel Cassady,
ARTnews.com,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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Otherwise, those bobbleheads will look a little silly.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
8 May 2026
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If that strikes you as twee or downright silly, Olivia Newman‘s touchy-feely weepie is not on your wavelength.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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Bietila, who sports choppy green hair and colorful eyeshadow, sat beside Rencher in an airy Lindblom classroom reflecting on their season.—
Kate Armanini,
Chicago Tribune,
11 May 2026
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Weather conditions are expected to be pleasant in Tenerife this weekend but will worsen early next week with choppier waves and stronger gusts of wind, according to CNN’s Weather Team.—
Jennifer Hansler,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Adjective
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When a Republican says something foolish, network anchors react like a gator just crawled into the studio wearing a MAGA hat.—
Larry Clifton,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
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If Florida is worried about China’s rise, dismantling educational and cultural exchanges is a foolish response.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Each progressive Trolls movie has gotten more and more insane.—
Marah Eakin,
Vulture,
7 May 2026
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To have air traffic controllers or the Transportation Security Administration to go without pay is insane and prejudicial to public safety.—
Lucas Robinson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
7 May 2026
Adjective
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These mad scientists then trained a small flock of sheep to recognize four celebrities—Emma Watson, Barack Obama, Jake Gyllenhaal, and the BBC newsreader Fiona Bruce—from their pictures on the internet.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
9 May 2026
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While Sharpe’s casting was inevitably, and depressingly, dismissed as another sign of wokeism gone mad, the half-Japanese/half-British actor ultimately brings something new to the table.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
8 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Jerky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jerky. Accessed 13 May. 2026.
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