jerk synonyms

jerk

n.

  1. A spasmodic movement

    twitch, tic, shrug, wiggle, shake, quiver, flick, snap, yank, tug, wrench, lurch, jolt, jump, jounce, jiggle; see also bump 1.

  2. *A contemptible person

    brute, rat*, fool*, chump*; see fool 1, rascal.

jerk

v.

  1. To undergo a spasm

    twitch, shrug, have a convulsion, wriggle, shake, quake, quiver, shiver, wiggle, jiggle, dance; see also shake 1, twitch 2.

  2. To move an object with a quick tug

    snatch, grab, tug, yank, whisk, pluck, snag, hook, flip, bounce, fling, hurtle, flick, wrench, twist, pull.

Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.