1
as in bastard
a person whose behavior is offensive to others
his constant rudeness and insensitivity made everyone think he was a real jerk
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
1
as in to yank
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 to twitch
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 to shake
to make a series of small irregular or violent movements
the car jerked with every shift of the gear
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of jerk
Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
Cianfrance supplies a real jerk of a manager in Peter Dinklage’s Mitch, on whom Jeffrey spies by setting up baby monitors in the back office.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
Braedon Montgomery, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
During that second stay, a routine reflex test caused his leg to jerk violently, prompting a full spinal MRI.
—Jordan Greene, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jerk
Noun
Rather than try to play against this, though, Cooper has seemingly embraced his father’s ability to speak volumes with a jerk of his head or the click of his tongue.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
Cianfrance supplies a real jerk of a manager in Peter Dinklage’s Mitch, on whom Jeffrey spies by setting up baby monitors in the back office.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 7 Sep. 2025
Verb
The story follows a Jewish family across five generations, from childhood to adulthood, blending laughs and tear-jerking moments, just like in Bob-Waksberg’s other shows.
—Braedon Montgomery, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
During that second stay, a routine reflex test caused his leg to jerk violently, prompting a full spinal MRI.
—Jordan Greene, People.com, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jerk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jerk
Noun
-
The quasi-moon is expected to remain in its current near-Earth orbit for about another 60 years before the gravitational tug of the sun pulls it back into a horseshoe orbit.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 2025
-
This pulling motion tugs on artificial bones, creating movements similar to how the human body works.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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By Wednesday, Kimmel’s bosses at ABC—owned by Disney—decided to yank him without a definite return date.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
18 Sep. 2025
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Former Cincinnati Reds star Zack Cozart on Wednesday cheered Disney’s decision to yank comedian Jimmy Kimmel off the air after controversial comments about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Any dairy farmer can tell you that biting flies are a pestilent scourge for cattle herds, which is why one so often sees cows throwing their heads, stamping their feet, flicking their tails, and twitching their skin—desperately trying to shake off the nasty creatures.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
18 Sep. 2025
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Prior to the 2024 incident, Mangione reportedly shared information on Reddit about a number of health issues, including struggles with back pain, brain fog, and twitching leg muscles.—
Olivia-Anne Cleary,
Time,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The team crowded around Johnson and offered hugs with celebratory cheers, shaking him around as Johnson got a bright smile on his face.—
Matthew Couden,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Sep. 2025
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Kevin Gausman shook two champagne bottles in preparation.—
Mitch Bannon,
New York Times,
22 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Smaller dogs – those under 20 lb (9 kg) – were reported as more fearful, more aggressive, and more attention-seeking, but less trainable than larger dogs.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
21 Sep. 2025
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Also, keeping your dogs and cats active is a great brain activity and keeps them healthy both mentally and physically.—
Jamie L. LaReau,
USA Today,
21 Sep. 2025
Noun
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The two had a minor pull-apart but Adam Pearce screamed it down.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
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From a modern and musical twist on the classic Furby to the sweet Lego Botanicals Happy Plants and a new Melissa & Doug pull-along pup, these toys for kids start at just $7.—
Katrina Cossey,
Parents,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
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The administration’s lurching one way and another with tariffs is another example.—
Erik Sherman,
Forbes.com,
20 Sep. 2025
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His mother has since said her son's views lurched left in recent years.—
Anna Kaufman,
USA Today,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Mash it up, smear it on toast, toss it in a salad, or eat it straight.—
Claire Bugos,
Verywell Health,
17 Sep. 2025
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Judge tosses two murder charges related to acts of terrorism against Luigi Mangione, the alleged killer of UnitedHealthcare’s CEO last year.—
Amy Feldman,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jerk. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.
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