jerk around

verb

Definition of jerk aroundnext
as in to play (on or upon)

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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 jerk around Those afflicted would tremble and jerk around, lose the ability to stand or swallow, and, after many months of slow suffering, die. — David Remnick, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026 The view of his phone camera jerks around, points up to the sky and captures a glimpse of his masked face. — Julia Ainsley, NBC news, 13 Jan. 2026 Ciri gets a bit more agency and backbone, a welcome evolution for a character who has been jerked around by the plot, her allies and her enemies for too long. — Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025 And that’s not even taking into consideration the continual jerking around of Busy Philipps. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 18 July 2025 He was locked up to be a franchise player, and franchise players aren’t typically jerked around like that. — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 18 June 2025 The shocking news out of this summer’s Olympic break-dancing competition in Paris wasn’t that a female Australian competitor had hopped and jerked around like Uma Thurman being revived from a drug coma in Pulp Fiction. — Christian Schneider, National Review, 24 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for jerk around
  1. manipulate
  2. use
  3. pimp
  4. leverage
  5. mistreat
  6. abuse
Verb
  • Artificial intelligence has enabled the rapid rise of such tools, capable of digitally manipulating photos with little effort.
    — Megan Cerullo, CBS News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • In a country where current and former governors command massive grassroots support and are often accused of working with local electoral officials to manipulate election results, analysts say the defections could work in Tinubu’s favor.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of manipulate
Verb
  • The Triglav Lodge, Slovenia’s highest-altitude guest hut at an elevation of 2,515 meters (8,251 feet), is using paper plates this summer to save water on dishes.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Ukraine has been relatively successful at intercepting the massive numbers of drones that Russia uses in its large-scale attacks.
    — Kosta Gak, CNN Money, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of use
Verb
  • Robinson was originally convicted of one felony count of human trafficking and one felony count of pimping in November 2023 for allegedly trafficking a 22-year-old woman against her will, prosecutors said.
    — Caelyn Pender, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
  • Lake recalled Manson allegedly pimping her and the other women and girls in his cult to other adult men and brutally sodomizing her.
    — Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 23 July 2026
Definition of pimp
Verb
  • Schmieder advocates for leveraging biotechnology to create regenerative, resilient cities that partner with nature, rather than working against it.
    — John Werner, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Grover added that Nuvation Bio will likely be able to accelerate revenue growth by leveraging its existing client base, particularly if taletrectinib proves to be effective as a first-line treatment for relatively long periods of time.
    — Liz Napolitano, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of leverage
Verb
  • Riddle says misdiagnosing and mistreating postpartum psychosis can have adverse effects on patients.
    — Louisa Moller, CBS News, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The lawsuit isn’t the first to accuse Ye of mistreating a fellow musician.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of mistreat
Verb
  • Jarrett, the elder brother, was eventually taken in by a man who later abused him, a victimizer who then set his sights on Baylon.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Market power can be abused, and a transaction involving companies this significant deserves careful regulatory scrutiny.
    — Cory Jacobson, HollywoodReporter, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of abuse

Browse Nearby Words

jerk
jerk around
jerked
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Cite this Entry

“Jerk around.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/jerk%20around. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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