JERKY Synonyms: 160 Similar and Opposite Words

jerky

adjective

ˈjər-kē

Definition of jerky next

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

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 show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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 Her jerky, spastic motions draw concerned looks from others at the event, ultimately losing her a lot of respect from those who attended the party. —

Sara Belcher, People.com, 6 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for jerky

Recent Examples of Synonyms for jerky

Adjective

The lynchpin to it all is recognizing that 69% of gross domestic product, a rough though imperfect measure of the economy, is consumer spending.

— Erik Sherman, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026
The hilarious ensemble comedy plays out during a dinner party between a couple who are going through a rough patch and their upstairs neighbors, who turn out to be swingers.

— Rebecca Rubin, Variety, 28 Jan. 2026