: a strongly built powerful boat used for towing and pushing
called also towboat
Examples of tugboat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The strikes took place on a military base on the peninsula and in Sevastopol Bay, a Russian tugboat was also hit, according to the GUR.
—
Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
His father, a tugboat stoker, was often away, and young Terence found solace in films, idolizing Gary Cooper and James Dean.
—Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025
Museumgoers can also explore a huge freighter and tugboat, docked along the Maumee River outside the museum.
—Jeri Clausing, AFAR Media, 22 Aug. 2025
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) said an aluminum fishing vessel collided with a commercial tugboat, sending the two people on the fishing vessel overboard, according to ABC affiliate WAAY and the Trussville Tribune.
—Abigail Adams, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tugboat
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Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Sep. 2025
His father, a tugboat stoker, was often away, and young Terence found solace in films, idolizing Gary Cooper and James Dean.
—Daniel Ross Goodman, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2025
Museumgoers can also explore a huge freighter and tugboat, docked along the Maumee River outside the museum.
—Jeri Clausing, AFAR Media, 22 Aug. 2025
The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) said an aluminum fishing vessel collided with a commercial tugboat, sending the two people on the fishing vessel overboard, according to ABC affiliate WAAY and the Trussville Tribune.
—Abigail Adams, People.com, 18 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tugboat
Cite this Entry
“Tugboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tugboat. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tugboat
noun
tug·boat
ˈtəg-ˌbōt 
: a strongly built powerful boat used for towing and pushing ships
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