jerky
1 of 2adjective
ˈjər-kē 
jerkier; jerkiest
1
a
: moving along with or marked by fits and starts
b
: characterized by abrupt transitions
2
: inane, foolish
jerkily
ˈjər-kə-lē
adverb jerkiness
ˈjər-kē-nəs
noun jerky
2 of 2noun
jer·ky ˈjər-kē
: jerked meat
Synonyms
Adjective
- bumpy
- choppy
- herky-jerky
- jouncy
- rough
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Adjective The movie was jerky and hard to watch. made jerky progress walking with the new crutches
Recent Examples on the Web
Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 11 Aug. 2022 Anderson broke into the big leagues with three solid seasons in Colorado from 2016 to 2018, compensating for his low-90s mph fastball velocity with a jerky delivery and complementary changeup. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 July 2022 Over bratwursts provided by Mary’s German Grill, people shared news of progress on a new gas station and a popular jerky manufacturer that had laid a foundation in its reconstruction effort. Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2022 At first, the movements seem a little too jerky, the lines a little too obvious. Mark Sutherland, Variety, 27 May 2022 Bright, shining acidity, some beef jerky mid-palate. Tom Mullen, Forbes, 22 May 2022 The jerky company donated funds slated for advertising to the Red Cross. Maren Larsen, Outside Online, 9 Apr. 2020 In some ways, the ride reminded me of classics like Space Mountain — the beloved indoor coaster at Magic Kingdom that takes guests on a (somewhat jerky) trip to the stars. Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 6 May 2022 Or Jake Lacy, as the embodiment of jerky white-male privilege? Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2021 Good Housekeeping, 28 June 2022 Tennessee Brown Bag produced seven beef jerky varieties and sold the product directly to consumers nationwide through websites and through retail locations in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 27 Apr. 2022 Even the act of debating itself involved a sort of affected roboticism: the proper spread was delivered with empty eyes, in a jerky monotone. Tess Mcnulty, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 The news comes two months after the Big 12 announced a new sponsorship with Old Trapper, a beef jerky business. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 17 July 2022 There are a half-dozen offerings including a vegan option of asparagus and smoked trumpet mushroom, Kawahagi Triggerfish jerky, mini Kurobuta pork sausages and Tsukune chicken meatballs. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 12 July 2022 Jerky: No man can resist Gary West Meats' tender jerky. Erin Cavoto, Country Living, 12 May 2022 The monkey slug looks like some sort of faceless alien Muppet with a fun hairdo and a herky-jerky gait. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 21 July 2022 The 26-year-old now visits prison facilities to deliver books, shampoo and snacks such as pork jerky and M&Ms. Hsiuwen Liu, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2022 See More
Adjective
Whereas Xander Cage is more obviously jerky boy of his moment. Leah Greenblatt, EW.com, 11 Aug. 2022 Anderson broke into the big leagues with three solid seasons in Colorado from 2016 to 2018, compensating for his low-90s mph fastball velocity with a jerky delivery and complementary changeup. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 July 2022 Over bratwursts provided by Mary’s German Grill, people shared news of progress on a new gas station and a popular jerky manufacturer that had laid a foundation in its reconstruction effort. Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2022 At first, the movements seem a little too jerky, the lines a little too obvious. Mark Sutherland, Variety, 27 May 2022 Bright, shining acidity, some beef jerky mid-palate. Tom Mullen, Forbes, 22 May 2022 The jerky company donated funds slated for advertising to the Red Cross. Maren Larsen, Outside Online, 9 Apr. 2020 In some ways, the ride reminded me of classics like Space Mountain — the beloved indoor coaster at Magic Kingdom that takes guests on a (somewhat jerky) trip to the stars. Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 6 May 2022 Or Jake Lacy, as the embodiment of jerky white-male privilege? Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 30 Nov. 2021 Noun
The lower-sodium jerky option is sugar-free and doesn’t compromise on taste. Good Housekeeping, 28 June 2022 Tennessee Brown Bag produced seven beef jerky varieties and sold the product directly to consumers nationwide through websites and through retail locations in Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia. Leada Gore | Lgore@al.com, al, 27 Apr. 2022 Even the act of debating itself involved a sort of affected roboticism: the proper spread was delivered with empty eyes, in a jerky monotone. Tess Mcnulty, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 The news comes two months after the Big 12 announced a new sponsorship with Old Trapper, a beef jerky business. Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 17 July 2022 There are a half-dozen offerings including a vegan option of asparagus and smoked trumpet mushroom, Kawahagi Triggerfish jerky, mini Kurobuta pork sausages and Tsukune chicken meatballs. Susan Selasky, Detroit Free Press, 12 July 2022 Jerky: No man can resist Gary West Meats' tender jerky. Erin Cavoto, Country Living, 12 May 2022 The monkey slug looks like some sort of faceless alien Muppet with a fun hairdo and a herky-jerky gait. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 21 July 2022 The 26-year-old now visits prison facilities to deliver books, shampoo and snacks such as pork jerky and M&Ms. Hsiuwen Liu, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Spanish charqui, from Quechua ch'arki
First Known Use
Adjective
1670, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Noun
1850, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing jerky
Kids Definition
jerky
adjective
ˈjər-kē
jerkier; jerkiest
: moving with sudden starts and stops
a jerky ride
jerky
adjective
1
as in rough
marked by a series of sharp quick motions made jerky progress walking with the new crutches Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- rough
- herky-jerky
- choppy
- uneven
- bumpy
- spastic
- erratic
- spasmodic
- jouncy
- unsteady
- irregular
- jagged
- ragged
- fitful
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- smooth
- steady
- calm
- still
- placid
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 Synonyms & Similar Words
- stupid
- silly
- crazy
- foolish
- mad
- absurd
- insane
- idiotic
- slow
- lunatic
- irrational
- nutty
- dumb
- weak
- wacky
- zany
- simple
- ridiculous
- dippy
- daffy
- sappy
- fool
- nonsensical
- kooky
- screwball
- idiotical
- loony
- whacky
- daft
- inept
- unreasonable
- senseless
- dotty
- asinine
- fatuous
- unwise
- harebrained
- crackpot
- cockeyed
- simpleminded
- preposterous
- lunkheaded
- brainless
- cuckoo
- half-baked
- looney
- witless
- kookie
- tomfool
- unreasoning
- balmy
- thoughtless
- half-witted
- bubbleheaded
- moronic
- featherheaded
- dopey
- dense
- soft
- obtuse
- illogical
- unintelligent
- invalid
- clueless
- dull
- opaque
- oafish
- thick
- thickheaded
- weak-minded
- out to lunch
- vacuous
- unreasoned
- pinheaded
- doltish
- dim
- dunderheaded
- lamebrain
- softheaded
- airheaded
- dorky
- imbecile
- mindless
- gormless
- feebleminded
- fallacious
- dim-witted
- nonrational
- ludicrous
- laughable
- knuckleheaded
- farcical
- surd
- unsound
- lamebrained
- chuckleheaded
- clownish
- brain-dead
- slow-witted
- chowderheaded
- boobish
- imbecilic
- dopy
- buffoonish
- empty-headed
- birdbrained
- unconsidered
- notional
- ill-advised
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- sound
- wise
- sensible
- judicious
- sane
- sagacious
- prudent
- intelligent
- clever
- sage
- reasonable
- smart
- sapient
- bright
- logical
- valid
- rational
- brainy
- well-advised
- station pole
- station rod
- station selector
- station staff
- station track
- station wagon
- station wagons
- station-type machine tool
- stational
- stationaries
- stationarily
- stationariness
- stationarinesses
- stationary
- stationary air
- stationary bicycle
- stationary engine
- stationary engineer
- stationary engineering
- stationary flow
- stationary front
- stationary line
- stationary point
- stationary state
- stationary wave