1
as in pull
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force
a quick pluck pulled the hair right out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in courage
the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship
it takes pluck to survive a crippling car accident and still go on to become successful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to squeeze
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
the Internet opened up a whole new medium for con artists to pluck the gullible
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pluck
Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 29 Jan. 2026
Trump is fond of Paxton’s pluck and Hunt’s ambition.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 10 June 2026
Elsewhere on the ruby red carpet, Greta Lee paid homage to beloved cowgirl, Jessie, brought to life by Joan Cusack in all five films, wearing a red and white spherical, one-shoulder gown plucked straight from the Christian Dior spring 2026 couture runway.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pluck
Noun
In the car world, Ratcliffe’s pluck has earned him some admiration, though sales have not necessarily followed, even if the Grenadier stacks up well in terms of price and power.
—Erik Shilling, Robb Report, 29 Jan. 2026
Trump is fond of Paxton’s pluck and Hunt’s ambition.
—Philip Elliott, Time, 26 Jan. 2026
Verb
Go ahead and pluck away without the stress.
—Alanna Martine Kilkeary, Glamour, 10 June 2026
Elsewhere on the ruby red carpet, Greta Lee paid homage to beloved cowgirl, Jessie, brought to life by Joan Cusack in all five films, wearing a red and white spherical, one-shoulder gown plucked straight from the Christian Dior spring 2026 couture runway.
—Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 10 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pluck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pluck
Noun
-
That sense of modernity has sometimes felt absent from the movies’ sweetly old-fashioned world, which features pull-string cowboy dolls and a shiny spaceman action figure.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
19 June 2026
-
The wind projects to blow out to right field tonight, enhancing Muncy’s pull-side power potential.—
Josh Shepardson,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Noun
-
Shine kindly, and let your courage invite fresh adventures now.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
16 June 2026
-
California — and America — now desperately need the courage for another moral intervention.—
Tom Debley,
Mercury News,
16 June 2026
Verb
-
Blend roasted red peppers with V8, and add Worcestershire sauce and freshly squeezed lemon and lime juice for a fresh alternative to bottled bloody mary mix.—
Ashlyn Ware,
Midwest Living,
20 June 2026
-
With electric vehicles continuing to gain share, that further squeezes European carmakers.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2026
Noun
-
If all goes well, Katalyst's space tug (it's called Link) will lift the Swift observatory into a higher, safer orbit — one that will add years of life to the aging space telescope's mission.—
Tariq Malik,
Space.com,
19 June 2026
-
The clash between the two dynamics — one extolling beauty, the other detailing gruesome crimes — makes for an oil-vinegar mix that speaks to the tug of war women experience between using the beauty versus their brains.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
18 June 2026
Noun
-
Zeolite absorbs excess oil while silk powder creates airy body and grit, making limp hair look instantly fuller and more lived-in.—
Christa Joanna Lee,
Allure,
19 June 2026
-
The Liberty’s tunnel is especially a sight because their tunnel style often lives in between a stretch of femininity and New York grit.—
Tiana Randall,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2026
Verb
-
Nothing stings quite like being steps from getting your credit card out to make a glorious purchase, and finding that your promo code isn’t working.—
Hannah Chubb,
Condé Nast Traveler,
17 June 2026
-
Ants, mosquitoes, ticks, termites, stinging insects, and house flies are the most common and costly summer pests.—
Sharon Wu,
USA Today,
16 June 2026
Noun
-
The yanks are coming, the yanks are coming!—
Kirk Bowman,
The Conversation,
9 June 2026
-
Connie Lansdown, the hysterectomy patient, watches the storm yank a man from a reclining chair and drag him down the hall.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
Noun
-
The Spurs responded with their best game of the series, a 115-111 win that required lots of mental fortitude and, in the end, sent Knicks fans home quiet.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
11 June 2026
-
Tate projected a credo of masculine excellence that revolved around self-discipline, physical prowess, and mental fortitude.—
Heidi Blake,
New Yorker,
8 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pluck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pluck. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
