Jerkily

Jerkily describes movement or actions characterized by sudden, abrupt, and often irregular movements. These movements can be caused by a variety of factors, from physical limitations or involuntary muscle contractions to mechanical instability or emotional distress. The essence of 'jerkily' is its lack of smoothness or fluidity; it suggests a stop-start pattern, a series of abrupt shifts or jolts rather than a continuous and controlled progression. This irregularity creates a sense of unpredictability and discontinuity, often implying awkwardness, discomfort, or instability, be it physical or metaphorical. The term can be applied to anything that exhibits this type of unsteady motion, from physical objects to abstract concepts like memories or speech patterns. The movement is more staccato, less legato.

Jerkily meaning with examples

• The old car, suffering from a sputtering engine, coughed and moved jerkily down the road, each rotation of the wheels producing a noticeable shudder. It made it harder to overtake other vehicles, and added to the general state of panic the driver was experiencing. The passengers held on tight, acutely aware of each sudden lurch, bracing themselves for each unpredictable jolt as if riding a mechanical bull at a rodeo.
• As the marionette danced across the stage, its strings were manipulated, causing its limbs to move jerkily. This made the movements look unnatural, and the lack of fluidity detracted from the performance. The audience became uneasy, fearing the strings might break during this robotic display. The puppeteer struggled, unable to achieve a graceful dance, much to the disappointment of the watching crowd.
• His voice, when he tried to explain his actions, stuttered, breaking down as his memories flickered, replaying jerkily like a broken film reel. His account lacked any smooth narrative, making it hard for his interviewer to follow. The tension in the room grew as he struggled to form coherent sentences, his fragmented recollections mirroring the turmoil within him. The painful pauses and sudden starts created a disturbing effect.
• The video recording of the security camera, suffering from a low frame rate, showed the intruder moving jerkily across the courtyard. It created an eerie effect, the figures movements disjointed and robotic. It provided only fragmented information, adding to the mystery. This added to the difficulty of analyzing the video, providing only brief snapshots of what had occurred as they struggled to piece together the events that led to the theft.