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
Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023
As ghosts, fate and the sheer power of true love pull Nicholas and Isabel together, so too does life threaten to tear them apart.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2023
David Aldridge, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Think of the global prestige of American universities, the enduring reach of English-language media or the aspirational pull of Western legal and political norms – and Western culture, too.
—Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pull
Verb
During the event, Riley wore black boots, a black dress, held a black and gold bag, and rocked a pair of massive gold hoops to pull it all together.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023
As ghosts, fate and the sheer power of true love pull Nicholas and Isabel together, so too does life threaten to tear them apart.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2023
Noun
The pull of sports is strong on many residents of most cities.
—David Aldridge, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
Think of the global prestige of American universities, the enduring reach of English-language media or the aspirational pull of Western legal and political norms – and Western culture, too.
—Andrew Latham, The Conversation, 29 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pull
Verb
-
Celeste Noche/for NPR All of the ingredients, cookware, coffee mugs, and tables themselves are hauled by bike, of course.—
Deena Prichep,
NPR,
2 May 2025
-
Having been hauled back to 2-2 by a spirited Barcelona fightback, Inter’s right-back took advantage of being overlooked once more, restoring his team’s lead.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Verb
-
Horses line up at a 65-foot starting gate that stretches across the track.—
Javier Zarracina,
USA Today,
3 May 2025
-
As the demonstrations stretched across the summer and fall, students took action too.—
Jessie Yeung,
CNN Money,
3 May 2025
Noun
-
The title tugs on the irony of Mulvaney’s three-dimensional story while playing with the two-dimensional notion of what a paper doll is.—
Denny,
Them.,
30 Apr. 2025
-
While puppies often love rubbery chew toys, older or senior dogs may prefer softer toys that are easier to hold and tug.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
How did working on the show influence your approach to creating music?—
Christopher Claxton,
Billboard,
5 May 2025
-
Should disparate impact emerge as a legal argument, Trump’s executive order could have influence over the outcome.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
5 May 2025
Noun
-
Charles Koch has long been a foe of protectionism and an evangelist for free markets, competitive advantage and mutual benefit.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
2 May 2025
-
While that meant that Lee and his co-founder Andy Platts’ efforts were often overlooked, there are advantages to running your own race.—
Elias Leight,
Billboard,
1 May 2025
Verb
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The officers then dragged Feliz out of his car, pulling his pants down and exposing his genitals in the process.—
Lourdes Rosado,
New York Daily News,
30 Apr. 2025
-
On the flip side, Jamal Murray dragged the Clippers for 43 points.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
Donald Trump is yanking federal funds from public media.—
E. Tammy Kim,
New Yorker,
2 May 2025
-
Soon thereafter, starving, Cage yanks the dead rat from the ground and holds it to his teeth, about to take a bite.—
Rachel Handler,
Vulture,
2 May 2025
Verb
-
Eleven people were killed and at least 20 more hurt in a , police said Sunday.—
Joseph Wilkinson,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2025
-
Thomas strongly pushed for the approval of an issue that hurt the progress of Black people while supporting the wishes of descendants of slave owners and like-minded people.—
Gary Franks,
Hartford Courant,
26 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pull. Accessed 11 May. 2025.
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