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
Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 Mar. 2025
On that note…being concise doesn’t mean being a total jerk either.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 5 Mar. 2025
Robert Ferris, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2025
There are numerous moments where she is lost in a dream or a memory before suddenly jerking awake, often too clearly delineating the boundaries in a film ostensibly about its main character’s delusions.
—Ryan Swen, Variety, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jerk
Noun
If anyone other than Rudd were playing her selfish dad, audiences would be actively rooting for the jerk to get ’corned.
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 9 Mar. 2025
On that note…being concise doesn’t mean being a total jerk either.
—Jenna Ryu, SELF, 5 Mar. 2025
Verb
The Tesla doesn’t have that collaborative aspect and will shut off if the driver jerks the wheel.
—Robert Ferris, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2025
There are numerous moments where she is lost in a dream or a memory before suddenly jerking awake, often too clearly delineating the boundaries in a film ostensibly about its main character’s delusions.
—Ryan Swen, Variety, 18 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jerk
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jerk
Noun
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Season 3 tugs a similar string by dedicating Episode 7 to two instrumental moments from Ian and Poppy’s childhood.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
26 Mar. 2025
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Downy’s version also acts as a fabric freshener and only requires a spritz on the fabric, plus a tug and smooth to release the wrinkles.—
Rylee Johnston,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
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President Donald Trump’s decision to yank the nomination of Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is the latest sign Republicans have a special election problem.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Mar. 2025
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Two nights after being yanked in the first period in Tampa Bay, Jarry again was pulled after allowing four goals, this time on 12 shots.—
Josh Yohe,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
In the footage, the faceless android is seen suspended from the ceiling, its limbs twitching and moving in an unsettlingly human-like manner.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
11 Mar. 2025
-
For example, dogs who love running might be twitching their paws while dreaming.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The back-and-forth over tariffs shook confidence in U.S. leadership, exposed fractures within Trump’s team and rattled companies that rely on global sources for products and international customers for sales.—
Time,
Time,
10 Apr. 2025
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Trump's punishing tariffs have shaken a global trading order that has persisted for decades, raised fears of recession, and driven worldwide stocks sharply downward.—
Joe Cash and Trevor Hunnicutt,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Responding officers found the dog, and advised the owner to take the dog in.—
cleveland,
cleveland,
13 Sep. 2023
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According to LifeLine, the DeKalb shelter takes in 135 dogs a week on average.—
Jim Gaines,
ajc,
13 Sep. 2023
Noun
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Activities include a champagne reception with a variety of games where everyone wins a prize for their donation (for example, a $25 chance at the prize wheel will win the donor a $25 gift certificate) and a wine pull.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Apr. 2025
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Containing around 400 powerful volcanoes, Io is influenced by Jupiter’s gravitational pull and the pull of the planet’s other moons.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But the ruling did little to herald any political stability in the country, which has lurched from crisis to crisis.—
Choe Sang-Hun,
New York Times,
24 Mar. 2025
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For the last six weeks, Americans have been yanked and ghosted, lurched and launched with a merciless urgency.—
Philip Elliott,
TIME,
5 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Nathan tossed the black backpack into a trash can, Seraphine said.—
Grethel Aguila,
Miami Herald,
6 Apr. 2025
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The footage, captured at the InterContinental Hotel in Los Angeles, allegedly showed Ventura walking toward a bank of elevators as Combs chased after her, then grabbing her by the neck and tossing her to the floor before turning to violently kick her and grab her purse and suitcase.—
Charlotte Phillipp,
People.com,
6 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Jerk.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jerk. Accessed 14 Apr. 2025.
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