jerkily

Thân thiện

She placed the cup down jerkily on the saucer.

Definition

Adverb: 1. In a jerky manner; with abrupt, uneven, or convulsive movements: Describes an action performed with sudden starts, stops, or pulls, lacking smoothness or fluidity. 2. In a spasmodic manner; with involuntary muscle contractions: Describes a movement that is sudden, uncontrollable, and irregular, often due to a reflex or medical condition.

Usage Examples

• The old elevator ascended jerkily, stopping with a lurch at every floor.
• He nodded jerkily, his nervousness obvious to everyone watching.
• The car moved jerkily through the heavy traffic as the driver struggled with the manual transmission.
• The puppet danced jerkily on its strings.

Advanced Usage

• To move/jerk jerkily: This is a common collocation where the adverb intensifies the verb's inherent meaning of abrupt motion.
  • The fishing line tugged jerkily, indicating a fish was on the hook.
• To speak jerkily: Can describe speech that is halting, interrupted by pauses or emotion.
  • He spoke jerkily, trying to hold back his tears.

Variants and Related Words

• Jerky (adjective): Characterized by jerks; moving in a jerky manner.
  • The jerky motion of the train made it hard to write.
• Jerk (noun): A quick, sharp, sudden movement.
  • He gave the rope a strong jerk.
• Jerk (verb): To move with a quick, sharp motion; to pull suddenly.
  • She jerked her hand away from the hot stove.

Synonyms

• Spasmodically: In sudden, brief, violent bursts.
• Convulsively: With violent, involuntary muscle contractions.
• Abruptly: Suddenly and unexpectedly.
• Fitfully: In an irregular and intermittent way.

Antonyms

• Smoothly: In a smooth, even, and uninterrupted way.
• Fluidly: In a graceful, flowing manner.
• Evenly: In a constant, regular, and uniform way.
• Steadily: In a firm, regular, and unwavering manner.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• In fits and starts: With irregular bursts of activity, similar to moving jerkily.
  • The project progressed in fits and starts.
• (To come/go) by jerks: An older phrase meaning to proceed with abrupt movements.
  • The old machine operated by jerks.

Học thuật

Adverb

1. with jerking motions
   • She rose stiffly, jerkily from the window seat
2. with spasms
   • the mouth was slightly open, and jerked violently and spasmodically at one corner

Từ đồng nghĩa

• spasmodically