pull 1 of 2

verb

ˈpu̇l How to pronounce pull (audio)
Definition of pullnext
1
as in to haul
to cause to follow by applying steady force on a team of horses pulling a heavy wagon

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2
as in to pry
to draw out by force or with effort the dentist had to struggle to pull the tooth

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to stretch
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure lift the crate carefully, or you'll pull a muscle

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pull

2 of 2

noun

1
as in tug
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force I gave the door such a pull that when it suddenly opened, I nearly fell backwards

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2
as in influence
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly their lawyer supposedly has a lot of pull with the administration in Washington

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3
as in advantage
the more favorable condition or position in a competition a political candidate with all of the pull that comes with a vast fortune and famous surname

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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 pull
Verb
The fish gives you polish, but the chimichurri pulls it back toward Argentina, toward the grill, toward the street. — Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026 Junior tasks are quickly being automated by tech, and companies are pulling back on their pipelines for young talent. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 15 July 2026
Noun
For generations, Illinois could rely on Chicago’s gravitational pull. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 17 July 2026 Electronic bingo is considered Class II gaming, which includes electronic bingo, bingo, pull-tab games and certain non-banked card games, where players compete against each other instead of against the casino. — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pull
  1. haul
  2. yank
  3. stretch
  4. tug
  5. influence
  6. advantage
  7. drag
  8. extract
Verb
  • Mixing Small-Batch Recipes Sometimes a whisk isn’t quite enough, but hauling out a bulky mixer and all its attachments feels like overkill.
    — Nicole Letts, Southern Living, 17 July 2026
  • Most spend their lives at sea or hauled out on remote, uninhabited islands far from anyone.
    — Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026
Definition of haul
Verb
  • Then we’re yanked into Louis’s hazy POV, from which Armand is reading another one of his apology letters.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 20 July 2026
  • Johnson yanks veterans' benefits package An effort to advance a package of VA benefits bills this morning on the House floor went down in flames – the latest in Speaker Mike Johnson's struggle to get Republicans on the same page.
    — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 16 July 2026
Definition of yank
Verb
  • Each format layers protein with fiber and healthy fats, which helps stretch a small meal into real nutrition.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 15, Miami Herald, 16 July 2026
  • The enforcement operations stretched from the Middle East to the Indian Ocean, thousands of miles away.
    — Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 15 July 2026
Definition of stretch
Noun
  • These shorts have an easy pull-on opening that eliminates the tug-and-jump dance associated with denim shorts.
    — Rylee Johnston, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026
  • For as much as many savor the South Florida lifestyle, the tug of a hometown can have an even greater pull on the heartstrings.
    — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 11 July 2026
Definition of tug
Noun
  • The city and nearby Miami Beach are both known for its airy and colorful Mediterranean Revival styles, Caribbean influence and tropical take on Art Deco, but skyscrapers do not have a long history within the city.
    — Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 21 July 2026
  • Public investors receive a minority interest with limited influence and no certainty about when the controlling owner will eventually sell.
    — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of influence
Noun
  • While Spain looks primed to defend their crown with a young core and home-field advantage, the race to lift the World Cup in 2030 has almost four years to now take shape.
    — Dean Jones, New York Times, 20 July 2026
  • With warm Southern weather stretching way beyond Labor Day, this is actually the perfect time to take advantage, with lots of days on the porch still left.
    — Sarah Scott, Southern Living, 19 July 2026
Definition of advantage
Verb
  • The untethered AUVs hover above the seabed instead of dragging equipment across it, reducing sediment disturbance and limiting ecosystem disruption.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 15 July 2026
  • Overall, the plan is on par with a request the White House submitted to Congress last month, as the Iran war drags past four months.
    — Kevin Freking, Fortune, 15 July 2026
Definition of drag
Verb
  • The artisan copper stills used to extract essential oils and hydrosols are handcrafted by Copper Pro in Ukraine, incorporating a unique heating element that can be plugged in rather than using an open flame.
    — Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 July 2026
  • During processing, the juices are extracted from the fruit, and the remaining flesh and fiber are discarded.
    — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson July 21, Charlotte Observer, 21 July 2026
Definition of extract

Phrases Containing pull

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puling
pull
pull a face
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Cite this Entry

“Pull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pull. Accessed 22 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on pull

Nglish: Translation of pull for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pull

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