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 way that life unfolds in herky-jerky, unpredictable rhythms informs the experimental approach that Dijon, a 33-year-old producer-singer, takes to R&B. — Spencer Kornhaber, The Atlantic, 12 Dec. 2025 If the segues in Scene don’t feel haphazard and herky-jerky, this is in no small part because of the role addiction plays as connective tissue between sections, a kind of leitmotif. — Nick Pinkerton, Harpers Magazine, 24 Oct. 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 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 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
  • The Dallas Cowboys are bringing former NFL coach Mike Pettine out of retirement to serve as a senior assistant to defensive coordinator Christian Parker, whose debut in his new position is off to a rough start.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The Tampa Bay Rays are staring down a rough start to the American League Championship Series.
    — OutKick, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of rough
Adjective
  • Rising case rates in women under 50, new federal rules on breast density notification and the uneven rollout of 3D mammography are reshaping when and how women get screened.
    — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Grass, uneven ground, tiny puddles, and random objects can become major obstacles when the machine is barely taller than them.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of uneven
Adjective
  • Slowing down the number of frames recording per second will make an action appear faster and jerkier when played back at normal speed.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 23 Sep. 2026
  • That is always tricky, but Ojai was especially jerky.
    — Rakesh Agrawal, PC Magazine, 28 June 2026
Definition of jerky
Adjective
  • Overall, revenue for the 2026-27 NBA season might be choppy, given the end of local media rights deals with the FanDuel Sports Networks.
    — Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Instead, the ensuing spree sputters from one encounter to the next, leaving you with a choppy number that should go bigger and end sooner.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of choppy
Adjective
  • Hopefully this bumpy season — his first as a Dodger to end short of the championship following the 2024 and 2025 title runs — will make Ohtani better.
    — Mirjam Swanson, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Photo by Jennifer Pattison Tuohy / The Verge The smart display category has a bumpy history.
    — Jennifer Pattison Tuohy, The Verge, 12 Oct. 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 21 Oct. 2026.

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