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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of jerky
The group choreography is somehow both jerky and smooth, sprinkled with flashes of individual freestyle brilliance.
—
Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
Steer Smoothly Avoid sharp turns or jerky movements that can lead to skidding.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 25 Jan. 2025
The Delicious Darkness of Squid Game Food Tie-Ins Fast food, jerky, and whisky may seem worlds apart from the deadly stakes of Squid Game, but these tie-ins have tapped into the show's global resonance.
—Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Pair with a smorgasbord that includes sharp cheeses, jerky and fresh vegetables—cauliflower and broccoli.
—Tom Mullen, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jerky
Sheldon Pearce, The New Yorker, 21 Mar. 2025
Steer Smoothly Avoid sharp turns or jerky movements that can lead to skidding.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 25 Jan. 2025
The Delicious Darkness of Squid Game Food Tie-Ins Fast food, jerky, and whisky may seem worlds apart from the deadly stakes of Squid Game, but these tie-ins have tapped into the show's global resonance.
—Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
Pair with a smorgasbord that includes sharp cheeses, jerky and fresh vegetables—cauliflower and broccoli.
—Tom Mullen, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for jerky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jerky
Adjective
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Zippers provide the most secure closure, but their bulkiness and rough feel may mar a peaceful sleep.—
Carrie Honaker,
Southern Living,
22 May 2025
-
The 200 square miles of surrounding coral reefs proved rough for mariners, but divers now reap the benefits with some 300 shipwrecks to explore, from the 192-foot American schooner Constellation that sank during World War II to the Mary Celestia, a Civil War era paddle-wheeler.—
Robb Report Studio,
Robb Report,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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Not just on the training pitch but in the dorm rooms, talking about the future and giggling at stupid jokes.—
Jack Pitt-Brooke,
New York Times,
21 May 2025
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President Donald Trump said only stupid people would refuse a $400 million gift.—
Joe Soucheray,
Twin Cities,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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Bread crumbs • Props to the hair, makeup, and costuming departments for differentiating Kiki’s Simone from pre-Michaela Simone, who showed up to the island with a scraggly ponytail, a gray button-down, uneven skin, and scrawled tattoos.—
Caroline Framke,
Vulture,
23 May 2025
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Case for caution: On the flip side, skeptics point to the uneven performances, particularly internationally, and concerns about his hockey sense.—
Corey Pronman,
New York Times,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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If a couple players on the Dodgers can make a silly comment, so can the owner of the Yankees.—
Bill Shaikin,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2025
-
The artwork is silly and exaggerated to capture youngsters’ attention.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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Frank Morris and brothers Clarence and John Anglin, all in their 30s, shimmied with a homemade raft through hidden holes in their cell walls, climbed through a ventilation duct onto the roof and shoved off from the island fortress into the freezing, choppy waters of San Francisco Bay.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
28 May 2025
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Just a couple of weeks after showing up at the Met Gala in a shockingly short hairstyle, Kidman is serving up a saturated, asymmetrical bob with uneven baby bangs and a stick-straight, choppy look brought to fruition by hairstylist Evanie Frausto.—
Marci Robin,
Allure,
22 May 2025
Adjective
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And this is not a story of corporate greed run amok, because Walmart would be foolish to try to gouge its customers at a time when economic anxiety is high (more on that in a moment).—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
16 May 2025
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Peters said the training from Wayne State's Institute of Gerontology has helped credit union employees to better frame probing questions that will get a positive response without making members feel foolish.—
Susan Tompor,
USA Today,
15 May 2025
Adjective
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Read it because existence is absurd, and laughter might be the most intelligent response available.—
Newsweek Staff,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 May 2025
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One thing that’s been a challenge to satirists in the last 10 years is that reality has become so absurd, with the dumbest possible things happening every day, that there doesn’t always seem to be another level for satire to go to.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
28 May 2025
Adjective
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Tauruses will go crazy for something chic, functional, and soft to the touch.—
Meghan Rose,
Glamour,
9 Feb. 2023
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Before getting into the chaos of episode 5, that episode 4 cliff hanger was crazy.—
Calie Schepp,
EW.com,
6 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Jerky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jerky. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
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