1
2
as in to pry
to draw out by force or with effort
the dentist had to struggle to pull the tooth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pull
Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
Below, see more of the best, fresh-off-the-runway pulls from the 2025 Academy Museum Gala.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2025
Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 13 Oct. 2025
Held at La Valle Coastal Club in Rancho Santa Fe, the festive event featured a steel drum band, tropical bites, silent auction, opportunity drawings, a wine pull, and stories from clients whose lives have been transformed by Pathways’ legal support, according to a news release.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pull
Verb
In Entertainment Weekly’s oral history of the film, co-writer Shawn Wayans was blunt about the project's origins and the challenges of pulling it off.
—Skyler Trepel, Entertainment Weekly, 19 Oct. 2025
Below, see more of the best, fresh-off-the-runway pulls from the 2025 Academy Museum Gala.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
The shop’s owner, Orlando Plein, is the brother of Eddie Plein, the creator and originator of removable pull-out grillz.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 13 Oct. 2025
Held at La Valle Coastal Club in Rancho Santa Fe, the festive event featured a steel drum band, tropical bites, silent auction, opportunity drawings, a wine pull, and stories from clients whose lives have been transformed by Pathways’ legal support, according to a news release.
—News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pull
Verb
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In a spot that previously housed a portico, an excavator can be seen consolidating the rubble to be hauled away.—
Thomas Bordeaux,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
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David and Daryl drove tractors hauling children to the pumpkin patches.—
Kelly Wilkinson,
IndyStar,
23 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The squad is stretched defensively, with goalkeeper Alisson expected to be out until after the November international break, and summer signing Giovanni Leoni missing the remainder of the season with an anterior cruciate ligament injury.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
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The trek stretched nearly 40 shows, and while the group hasn’t revealed much about the future of Rilo Kiley, the reunion will stretch into at least 2026, with a pair of Barcelona gigs (including at the Primavera Sound festival) already booked.—
Daniel Kreps,
Rolling Stone,
19 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The Wall Street Journal reports that regardless of how that fiscal tug-of- war turns out, health insurance premiums paid by Americans are expected to rise another 8% or 9% next year.—
Stephen Moore,
Boston Herald,
23 Oct. 2025
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In the heart of the Amazon Basin, where the borders and cultures of Peru, Colombia and Brazil converge, a tiny, shape-shifting island has become the unlikely setting for a diplomatic tug of war.—
Sarah Hutter,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Gabbiadini didn’t have that influence.—
Matt Woosnam,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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Will Trump look to wield more influence?—
Brendan Cole,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Real Madrid chief Florentino Perez was dead against the idea, with his club arguing that breaking the traditional home and away format adulterated the competition, while also expressing concern over participating teams gaining a financial advantage.—
Dermot Corrigan,
New York Times,
25 Oct. 2025
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Legalized betting has certain security advantages in that unusual betting patterns — such as large bets being placed on a random player’s performance — can be immediately flagged.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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His low cross found Pascal Gross for a tap-in at the far post after Luke Shaw had been dragged central trying to cut off Adam Lallana.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
23 Oct. 2025
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Vader moves the blade, raises it, but the shadow seems to only deepen, the pull of the dark side suddenly stronger, a riptide that threatens to drag him under.—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
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McDaniel even yanked Tagovailoa in favor of rookie Quinn Ewers after his third pick.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
22 Oct. 2025
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Mel Brooks’ best comedy shares many similarities with his other revered films – a strong grip of genre beats, a non-stop barrage of gags yanking us forward, and an eagerness to give every performer a chance to comedically shine.—
Rory Doherty,
Vulture,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
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But something always hurts that late in a marathon.—
Nicholas Thompson,
The Atlantic,
23 Oct. 2025
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The perception of Trump clearing the way for the Ellisons in the US could hurt them in other markets, sources said.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pull. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
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