wrench

1 of 2

verb

ˈrench 

wrenched; wrenching; wrenches

intransitive verb

1

: to move with a violent twist

also : to undergo twisting

2

: to pull or strain at something with violent twisting

transitive verb

1

: to twist violently

2

: to injure or disable by a violent twisting or straining

wrenched her back

3

: change

especially : distort, pervert

4

a

: to pull or tighten by violent twisting or with violence

b

: to snatch forcibly : wrest

5

: to cause to suffer mental anguish : rack entry 2

wrenchingly

ˈren-chiŋ-lē 

adverb

wrench

2 of 2

noun

1

a

: a violent twisting or a pull with or as if with twisting

b

: a sharp twist or sudden jerk straining muscles or ligaments

also : the resultant injury (as of a joint)

c

: a distorting or perverting alteration

d

: acute emotional distress : sudden violent mental change

2

: a hand or power tool for holding, twisting, or turning an object (such as a bolt or nut)

3

: monkey wrench sense 2

Synonyms of wrench

Verb

• pull
• tug
• yank
• twist

Noun

• twist
• twisting
• tug
• wrenching

Examples of wrench in a Sentence

Verb

I tried to wrench free from his grip.

I tried to wrench myself free from his grip.

He wrenched his back when he tried to lift a heavy box.

She wrenched the toy from his grasp.

The statue was wrenched from its pedestal.

Noun

It was a wrench to say goodbye to all my friends.

with a sharp wrench of the hammer I pulled the nail from the board

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The Fed, under Chair Paul Volcker, eventually brought it under control, but only after two wrenching recessions in the early 1980s. —Raghuram Rajan, Time, 23 Jan. 2026

From Agnes’ brutal childbirth scenes to the wrenching heartbreak when the plague hits their household and takes 11-year-old Hamnet (Jacobi Jupe), Zhao immerses you in Agnes and Will’s grief while also touching on their own individual internal tussles. —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 22 Jan. 2026

Noun

The wrench turns only one direction. —Parker Gabriel, Denver Post, 24 Jan. 2026

That has thrown a wrench into plans many high school basketball teams had of playing games Friday. —Erick Taylor, Arkansas Online, 22 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, from Old English wrencan; akin to Old High German renken to twist and perhaps to Latin vergere to bend, incline

First Known Use

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing wrench

• Allen wrench
• monkey wrench
• pipe wrench
• socket wrench
• throw a wrench into the works
• throw/hurl/toss a monkey wrench into

Rhymes for wrench

• clench
• drench
• quench
• stench
• tench
• trench
• wench
• entrench
• retrench
• workbench

Kids Definition

wrench

1 of 2 verb

ˈrench 

1

: to move with a violent twist

2

: to pull, strain, or tighten with violent twisting or force

3

: to injure by a violent twisting or straining

wrenched my knee while playing football

4

: to snatch forcibly : wrest

wrench

2 of 2 noun

1

a

: a violent twisting or pull

b

: a sharp twist or sudden jerk that strains muscles or ligaments

also : the injury caused by this

2

: a tool for holding, twisting, or turning (as nuts and bolts)

Medical Definition

wrench

1 of 2 transitive verb

ˈrench 

: to injure or disable by a violent twisting or straining

slipped and wrenched her back

wrench

2 of 2 noun

: a sharp twist or sudden jerk straining muscles or ligaments

also : the resultant injury (as of a joint)