tug

1 to cause to follow by applying steady force on <tugged on the door until it opened> Synonyms drag, draw, hale, haul, lug, tow, pullRelated Words attract; heave, jerk, yank; carry, convey, ferry, move, transportNear Antonyms shove, thrustAntonyms drive, propel, push

2 to devote serious and sustained effort <she's tugged all her life to get to where she is now in the business world> Synonyms bang away, beaver (away), dig (away), drudge, endeavor, fag, grub, hump, hustle, moil, peg (away), plod, plow, plug, slave, slog, strain, strive, struggle, sweat, toil, travail, labor, workRelated Words apply (oneself), buckle (down), dig in, hammer (away), knuckle down, pitch in; attack, drive; essay, try; exercise, exert, overexert, overwork; eke out, grind (out), put out, scrabble, scratch; trudge, wadeNear Antonyms break, ease (up), let up, slacken; bum, chill, dally, dillydally, footle, goldbrick, goof (off), hack (around), hang (around or out), idle, laze, loaf, lounge, shirk, slack (off), veg out; bask, loll, relax, repose, rest, unwind; dabble, doodle, fool around, fribble, goof (around), hang, hang about [British], mess around, monkey (around), play, potter (around), putter (around), trifle