herky-jerky

adjective

ˈhər-kē-ˈjər-kē How to pronounce herky-jerky (audio)
Definition of herky-jerkynext
as in rough
marked by a series of sharp quick motions filmed in a herky-jerky style that will give many moviegoers a headache

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 herky-jerky The single thread throughout this herky-jerky tale is, oddly enough, the novels of Charles Dickens, taught by James’ grandfather, absorbed by James and quoted endlessly by Irving. — The Know, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026 The Bone Temple is in many ways a more conventional film than 28 Years Later; DaCosta thankfully doesn’t try to re-create the herky-jerky rhythms and mixed-media montages of Boyle’s picture. — Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2026 The lineup of dishes and sauces and combos verges on overwhelming; they’re presented in a mix of typefaces and colors, and punctuated by herky-jerky photo animations—a waving hand holding a soft-serve twist, spidery fingers with brass nail extensions used in the traditional Thai dance Fawn Leb. — Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 28 Sep. 2025 In a throwback to the warts-and-all silliness of the family’s legendary MTV reality show, The Osbournes, Coming Home appears to lean into the domestic comedy of the Osbourne clan, opening with a jittery Ozzy begging Sharon to stop driving in a herky-jerky manner. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 1 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for herky-jerky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for herky-jerky
  1. rough
  2. uneven
  3. jerky
  4. choppy
  5. bumpy
Adjective
  • Mariana is not pleased to hear this, and he's got some rough-looking dudes with him.
    — Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 3 July 2026
  • Dual suspension helps smooth rough trails, hydraulic disc brakes provide dependable stopping power in changing conditions, and four-inch fat tires improve traction across gravel, dirt, sand, and pavement.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 July 2026
Definition of rough
Adjective
  • Household financial resilience also remains uneven, even when many adults report doing okay or living comfortably.
    — Henrik Totterman, Forbes.com, 5 July 2026
  • The uneven workmanship of the double stitching suggests the giant flag was likely made by amateurs, curators with the historical society have determined.
    — Rebekah Riess, CNN Money, 4 July 2026
Definition of uneven
Adjective
  • That is always tricky, but Ojai was especially jerky.
    — Rakesh Agrawal, PC Magazine, 28 June 2026
  • What began as an effort by namesake founder Jack Link to turn his great-grandfather’s jerky recipe into a livelihood has grown into a global business selling products in more than 55 countries.
    — Preston Fore, Fortune, 31 May 2026
Definition of jerky
Adjective
  • The high winds and choppy water conditions made the search efforts slow and difficult, officials said.
    — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 29 June 2026
  • Clinging onto a one-point lead at the end of the second quarter, the packed crowd of 18,064 at Chase Center was mostly quiet as a choppy first half kept the New York Liberty at arm’s length of the Valkyries’ lead for much of the first two quarters.
    — Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 29 June 2026
Definition of choppy
Adjective
  • But the rollercoaster ride for AI could get bumpier with the latest reporting on OpenAI looking for ways to appease the White House.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 2 July 2026
  • Cabin crew handed out chewing gum to ease ear pressure, meals were simple, and the sky was a bumpy place to eat anything at all.
    — Alex Ledsom, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026
Definition of bumpy

Browse Nearby Words

heritages
herky-jerky
hermetic
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Cite this Entry

“Herky-jerky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/herky-jerky. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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