wrest

1
as in to pry
to draw out by force or with effort the boy wrested the book out of his sister's hands

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2
as in to extort
to get (as money) by the use of force or threats vowed that the bully had wrested his lunch money from him for the last time

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3
as in to earn
to get with great difficulty farmers who were used to wresting a living from the harsh land

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4
5
as in to grab
to separate or remove by forceful pulling wrested open the stuck door of the cabinet

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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 wrest Trump has been unsuccessfully trying to wrest control of the independent Federal Reserve. Nicholas Riccardi, Chicago Tribune, 23 Aug. 2025 In 1968, Palestinians resurrected an independence movement that wrested decision making away from Egypt and other Arab countries that had been humiliated in the Six-Day War. Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025 Lack of accountability Still, the report’s criticism of the role of the Haiti National Police and government agents in carrying out human-rights abuses is part of a growing concern about the lack of accountability as security forces try to wrest back control from deadly armed gangs. Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 18 Aug. 2025 But still, the record is a spiritual victory, full of wisdom wrested from audible pain. Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for wrest
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrest
Verb
  • Diplomats told investigators that some foreign nationals were extorted as much as $10,000 to avoid arrest at checkpoints.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 23 Sep. 2025
  • Epstein also claimed at the time that his cellmate had tried to extort him.
    Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Hendricks gave up three runs (two earned) in five innings, striking out eight with no walks.
    Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services.
    Fernando Cervantes Jr, USA Today, 27 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Pearsall appeared to have reaggravated his knee injury that was plaguing him all week, and he was pulled from the game.
    James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Sep. 2025
  • Russia launched its first major wave of missile and drone strikes on Ukraine in nearly a month, pounding sites across the country on Sunday and leaving Kyiv hardest hit as rescue workers scrambled to pull people from the rubble.
    Rebecca Rosman, NPR, 28 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Today is the last day to grab a lifetime license for Windows 11 Pro for only $13 (reg.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2025
  • As the clock expired on a win Brian Daboll desperately needed, the New York Giants coach grabbed rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart.
    Dan Duggan, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Brandon was one of the first officers to arrive at the scene and helped extract her body from the vehicle.
    Mitch Moxley, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
  • An en-route hydrovac crew would extract the water, and an on-the-way front loader would remove the mud and debris, ADOT added.
    Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • The Reds squeezed into the third wild-card slot for their first playoff appearance in five years.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 30 Sep. 2025
  • Some people who have bought homes in the last few years feel squeezed by monthly payments that leave little cash left over.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Officers found the bodies of the three missing girls about 75 to 100 yards past the vehicle, down a small embankment, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by USA TODAY.
    Natalie Neysa Alund, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
  • The Tattooist Act passed convincingly on Thursday afternoon with 195 votes in favor out of 202 members present, enabling non-medical professionals to obtain a license.
    Reuters, NBC news, 26 Sep. 2025
Verb
  • Stylists crouch just out of frame, tugging seams, swapping earrings, brushing stray hairs from her face, while publicists hover nearby.
    Nicole Fell, HollywoodReporter, 1 Oct. 2025
  • On Tuesday, Humberto will tug Imelda away from the coast and the weather pattern trying to draw it closer to land.
    Chris Dolce, CNN Money, 28 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Wrest.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrest. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

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