jerkily
With abrupt movements
Jerkily describes movement characterized by sudden, abrupt motions rather than smooth flow: The old bus lurched jerkily up the mountain road.
It suggests stops and starts, irregular rhythm, or lack of coordination.
Speech delivered jerkily comes in halting bursts: He spoke jerkily, unable to find the right words.
Abrupt unsteady movement
- joltAbrupt forceful shake
- twitchInvoluntary muscular jerk
- staggerWalk unsteadily, sway
- shudderConvulsive trembling from fear
flinch · jounce · buck · stumble · wobble · falter · bobble · sputter
Involuntary muscle contraction
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- convulsionSudden involuntary muscle contractions
- ticInvoluntary repetitive movement
- twitchInvoluntary muscular jerk
seizure · myoclonus · cramp · shiver · tremble · quiver · startle · reflex
Occurring irregularly, infrequently
- intermittentOccurring at irregular intervals
- irregularDeviating from normal patterns
- discontinuousHaving breaks or gaps
- stutteringInvoluntary speech disfluency
halting · stop-and-go · fitful · choppy · staccato · syncopated · uneven · broken
lurch
Abrupt unsteady movement
shudder · flinch · jounce · buck · stumble · wobble · falter · bobble · sputter · judder
spasm
Involuntary muscle contraction
- tremorInvoluntary rhythmic shaking
- convulsionSudden involuntary muscle contractions
- ticInvoluntary repetitive movement
twitch · seizure · myoclonus · cramp · shiver · tremble · quiver · startle · reflex · paroxysm
sporadic
Occurring irregularly, infrequently
- intermittentOccurring at irregular intervals
- irregularDeviating from normal patterns
- discontinuousHaving breaks or gaps
stuttering · halting · stop-and-go · fitful · choppy · staccato · syncopated · uneven · broken · fragmented
shaky
Trembling or unstable
- rattlingProducing rapid knocks
- sputteringParticle ejection from surfaces
- chuggingDrinking rapidly, continuously
grinding · clunky · juddering · bumpy · rough · jolting · vibrating · clattering · lurching · stuttering
jerkilysmoothly
Without friction or difficulty
fluidly · gracefully · flowingly · seamlessly · effortlessly
jerkilyevenly
In equal parts
steadily · uniformly · regularly · consistently · rhythmically
- jerking aroundDeliberately wasting someone's time
- jerking offMale self-stimulation
- circle jerkingMutual uncritical praise exchange
- jerking itVulgar term, autoeroticism