wrenched; wrenching; wrenches
1
: to move with a violent twist
also
: to undergo twisting
2
: to pull or strain at something with violent twisting
1
: to twist violently
2
: to injure or disable by a violent twisting or straining
wrenched her back
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
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)
Synonyms
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
IEEE Spectrum, 19 Mar. 2024
When Omarosa Manigault Newman wrenched her ankle while rushing to join a motorcade in January 2017, the Trump aide and former reality TV star sought help from the White House Medical Unit — a military-run clinic that promised free, on-demand care to senior officials.
—Michael Kranish, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024
The mind may concoct heart wrenching scenarios in which the breakup never happened, or where there’s still a chance to salvage the relationship.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024
Two years of wrenching tech layoffs have weighed down the Bay Area’s job market in a big way — but experts say the impact has been somewhat mitigated by an industry realignment that’s led to significant hiring even as thousands of positions have been cut.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2024
Atop a base of black sheath dresses, coats and jackets were wrenched off the shoulder and blossomed over the hips in a New Look-on-steroids silhouette; exaggerated Poiret dresses ballooned to the calves; and intarsia ravens and roses were scattered over it all.
—Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024
Israel left Gaza in 2005, uprooting families and wrenching the country into an impassioned debate along the way.
—TIME, 12 Oct. 2023
Judging by motifs of the past, some years the commercials are downright weird, while other eras the bulk focused on heart wrenching sentimentality.
—Rob Ledonne, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2024
As the ruling Nigerien junta consolidates its grip on power, the Biden administration now faces wrenching new challenges in its fight against Islamist militants in Africa.
—Eric Schmitt Carmen Abd Ali, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2024
Arelis R. Hernández, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
The weather wildcard could throw a wrench into solar eclipse viewing plans, which is why many people will flock to Texas where cloud cover is not so prominent, according to USA Today.
—Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Apr. 2024
An appeal to McAfee’s recent order could also throw a wrench into the DA’s effort to bring the case to trial.
—Brian Bushard, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Using a wrench from a toolbox that fell off the truck, Reynolds smashed the front window, grabbed the man and pulled him to safety, district officials said.
—Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2024
Only the casting choice didn’t sit right with the film’s director, so Cameron accepted a meeting with Austrian bodybuilder just the throw a wrench in those plans.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
The latest landslide, however, throws a wrench into that plan and will likely delay its reopening.
—Collin Woodard / Jalopnik, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
Last episode, host and country star Jennifer Nettles threw the farmers and their daters quite the wrench.
—Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2024
Especially regarding wildlife and nature, anything can throw a wrench into plans.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2024
Verb
Attempts to wrench the gel and electrode apart would typically break the gel, leaving pieces of it on the electrode.
—IEEE Spectrum, 19 Mar. 2024
When Omarosa Manigault Newman wrenched her ankle while rushing to join a motorcade in January 2017, the Trump aide and former reality TV star sought help from the White House Medical Unit — a military-run clinic that promised free, on-demand care to senior officials.
—Michael Kranish, Washington Post, 16 Feb. 2024
The mind may concoct heart wrenching scenarios in which the breakup never happened, or where there’s still a chance to salvage the relationship.
—Mark Travers, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024
Two years of wrenching tech layoffs have weighed down the Bay Area’s job market in a big way — but experts say the impact has been somewhat mitigated by an industry realignment that’s led to significant hiring even as thousands of positions have been cut.
—George Avalos, The Mercury News, 18 Feb. 2024
Atop a base of black sheath dresses, coats and jackets were wrenched off the shoulder and blossomed over the hips in a New Look-on-steroids silhouette; exaggerated Poiret dresses ballooned to the calves; and intarsia ravens and roses were scattered over it all.
—Vanessa Friedman, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024
Israel left Gaza in 2005, uprooting families and wrenching the country into an impassioned debate along the way.
—TIME, 12 Oct. 2023
Judging by motifs of the past, some years the commercials are downright weird, while other eras the bulk focused on heart wrenching sentimentality.
—Rob Ledonne, Rolling Stone, 12 Feb. 2024
As the ruling Nigerien junta consolidates its grip on power, the Biden administration now faces wrenching new challenges in its fight against Islamist militants in Africa.
—Eric Schmitt Carmen Abd Ali, New York Times, 6 Jan. 2024
Noun
But the state takeover of Shelby Park threw a wrench in their plans.
—Arelis R. Hernández, Washington Post, 8 Apr. 2024
The weather wildcard could throw a wrench into solar eclipse viewing plans, which is why many people will flock to Texas where cloud cover is not so prominent, according to USA Today.
—Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 8 Apr. 2024
An appeal to McAfee’s recent order could also throw a wrench into the DA’s effort to bring the case to trial.
—Brian Bushard, Forbes, 29 Mar. 2024
Using a wrench from a toolbox that fell off the truck, Reynolds smashed the front window, grabbed the man and pulled him to safety, district officials said.
—Tanasia Kenney, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2024
Only the casting choice didn’t sit right with the film’s director, so Cameron accepted a meeting with Austrian bodybuilder just the throw a wrench in those plans.
—Ben Croll, Variety, 5 Apr. 2024
The latest landslide, however, throws a wrench into that plan and will likely delay its reopening.
—Collin Woodard / Jalopnik, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
Last episode, host and country star Jennifer Nettles threw the farmers and their daters quite the wrench.
—Hannah Kirby, Journal Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2024
Especially regarding wildlife and nature, anything can throw a wrench into plans.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'wrench.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Wrench.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wrench. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wrench
2 of 2 noun1
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
: 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)
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