wrench

¹wrench

verb \ˈrench\

Definition of WRENCH

intransitive verb

1

: to move with a violent twist; also : to undergo twisting

2

: to pull or strain at something with violent twisting

transitive verb

1

: to twist violently

2

: to injure or disable by a violent twisting or straining <wrenched her back>

3

: change; especially : distort, pervert

4

a : to pull or tighten by violent twisting or with violence b : to snatch forcibly : wrest

5

: to cause to suffer mental anguish : rack

— wrench·ing·ly \ˈren-chiŋ-lē\ adverb

Examples of WRENCH

1. I tried to wrench free from his grip.
2. I tried to wrench myself free from his grip.
3. He wrenched his back when he tried to lift a heavy box.
4. She wrenched the toy from his grasp.
5. The statue was wrenched from its pedestal.

Origin of WRENCH

Middle English, from Old English wrencan; akin to Old High German renken to twist and perhaps to Latin vergere to bend, incline

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to WRENCH

Synonyms: twist, wrest, wring

Related Words: draw, dredge (up), extract, jerk, lug, pluck, pull, tug, tweak, yank; jimmy, lever, pry; budge, dislocate, displace, disturb, remove; shift, transfer, transpose

Near Antonyms: reattach

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Rhymes with WRENCH

bench, Bench, blench, clench, drench, french, French, Hench, quench, stench, tench, trench, wench