1
as in yanking
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
Relevance
2
as in twitching
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 shaking
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
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 jerking
Watching their relationship devolve (never more so than when their sperm donor, a rakish, motorcycle-driving restaurant owner played by Mark Ruffalo, enters the scene) is most definitely a tear-jerking experience, as is the film’s final scene.
—
Liam Hess,
Vogue,
28 June 2026
Some were petty — like Reese committing a foul against Clark, then jerking her head back, impersonating Clark as a flopper.
—
Candace Buckner,
New York Times,
27 June 2026
Although not all the novel’s major characters make it to the end of this uplifting yet tear-jerking work of historical fiction, Six-Thirty safely perseveres.
—
Camille Perri,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
Avoid jerking the floss or aggressive movements; instead, use smooth, gentle motions.
—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
12 May 2026
During their first night together, just for an instant, Nikki appears to glitch, jerking back mid-kiss and looking at him with blind panic instead of undying affection.
—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
Pull the tick out gently, without jerking or ripping.
—
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2026
Tony Fauci was not just jerking the country around.
—
David Blumenthal,
Fortune,
24 Mar. 2026
The clip on TikTok shows the seat jerking abruptly, apparently from forceful pushes by the person seated behind her.
—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Liam Hess,
Vogue,
28 June 2026
Some were petty — like Reese committing a foul against Clark, then jerking her head back, impersonating Clark as a flopper.
—
Candace Buckner,
New York Times,
27 June 2026
Although not all the novel’s major characters make it to the end of this uplifting yet tear-jerking work of historical fiction, Six-Thirty safely perseveres.
—
Camille Perri,
PEOPLE,
10 June 2026
Avoid jerking the floss or aggressive movements; instead, use smooth, gentle motions.
—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
12 May 2026
During their first night together, just for an instant, Nikki appears to glitch, jerking back mid-kiss and looking at him with blind panic instead of undying affection.
—
Alex Barasch,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
Pull the tick out gently, without jerking or ripping.
—
Charlotte Observer,
30 Apr. 2026
Tony Fauci was not just jerking the country around.
—
David Blumenthal,
Fortune,
24 Mar. 2026
The clip on TikTok shows the seat jerking abruptly, apparently from forceful pushes by the person seated behind her.
—
Kelly McGreal,
FOXNews.com,
13 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jerking
Verb
-
Now, with the federal and state government yanking back plenty of that funding and directly barring the city from enacting some of its more aggressive climate plans, Higgins is left with a narrow road to tread toward progress.
-
The virtual oar-yanking celebration in a baseball atmosphere was one of those weird juxtapositions that seem to get fostered whenever a World Cup fanbase descends upon a host city.
Verb
-
There is something cultish about that idea — the player who tends not to start but has the knack to appear later on with antennae twitching, ready to seize the day and alter the course of a match.
-
Leon Stetson was allegedly twitching, so officers moved him away from Carrie Stetson and started to render medical aid.
Verb
-
This tournament has built credibility by showcasing teams competing at a high level, then shaking hands afterward.
-
An earth-shaking roar The World Cup finally arrived in Kansas City after several years of preparation and anticipation.
Verb
-
Workers were dispatched throughout La Guaira and parts of Caracas, where families and volunteers have spent the last few days pulling survivors and bodies from the wreckage despite a lack of heavy equipment and limited guidance from authorities.
-
Rescuers have fanned out across La Guaira, where the worst destruction occurred, and parts of Caracas, where families and volunteers have spent days pulling survivors and victims from the rubble.
Verb
-
In addition to having lofty themes, this is also a fairly rousing adventure with enough visual panache to keep any kid from fidgeting in his seat.
-
Pekara said hospital surveillance footage captured him fidgeting under the blanket.
Verb
-
These seemingly innocuous incidents attain new significance as they’re revisited alongside a slow crescendo that suddenly turns to shuddering piano chords on the track’s bridge.
-
Choose Baits with Vibration Lipless crankbaits earn their keep each spring, as their shuddering motion creates the bait-mimicking tremors to which bass respond.
Verb
-
The old guard of the Democratic Party suffered another body blow when three socialist congressional candidates in New York with anti-Israel platforms swept to victory, lurching the party even further to the left.
-
Taking the ride with Lazy Horse means embracing that chaos, lurching from song to song.
Verb
-
Roughly chop the smashed cucumbers before tossing them with the vinaigrette.
-
Paula quickly gets rid of the gun, tossing it in the garbage of the police station bathroom, but pockets the flash drive.
Cite this Entry
“Jerking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jerking. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
