wringer

noun wring·er \ ˈriŋ-ər \

Updated on: 1 Apr 2018

Definition of wringer

: one that wrings: such as

a : a machine or device for pressing out liquid or moisture

a clothes wringer

b : something that causes pain, hardship, or exertion

his illness put them through the wringer

See wringer defined for English-language learners

See wringer defined for kids

Recent Examples of wringer from the Web

Here's the wringer athletes all over the world are putting themselves through today through Monday: In 7 minutes, complete as many repetitions as possible of the following.

— zachary lewis, cleveland.com, "Local athletes emerging from the pack in 2018 CrossFit Open: Stretching Out," 23 Mar. 2018
Even those who take the swiftest action upon noticing their first flulike symptoms sometimes face a week or more being dragged through the the influenza wringer.

— matthew martinez, star-telegram, "This tablet promises to kill the flu in a day, and it was just approved in Japan | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 24 Feb. 2018
This Is Us is currently on hiatus, which was a wise decision given how much viewers have been put through the wringer lately.

— emma dibdin, Country Living, "'This Is Us' Fans Have A Heartbreaking Theory About Who Will Die Next," 22 Feb. 2018
Notably, Eklund and Kaplan have been through the wringer on their path toward becoming dads since their 2013 wedding.

— jen juneau, PEOPLE.com, "Fredrik Eklund Describes How Having Children Felt 'Like Walking Into The Light'," 13 Feb. 2018
From 'raw' attacker to laughable transfer acquisition, from frozen out first teamer to Gwladys Street cult hero, Niasse has gone through the wringer and then some since his £13.5m switch from Lokomotiv Moscow in January 2015.

— SI.com, "FanView: Why Everton Cult Hero Oumar Niasse's Potential Departure Is Tinged With Sadness," 9 Jan. 2018
Artists are our wringers of meaning, our spinners of beauty, our charters of the unknown.

— lily janiak, San Francisco Chronicle, "Bay Area artists share their real-life holiday stories," 22 Dec. 2017
Still, everyone agreed to show up, and they were put through the wringer by Clarity’s most clear-minded leaders.

— mariah smith, The Cut, "The Last Kardashian Episode of the Year Had One Incredible Scene," 18 Dec. 2017
The entire cast really gets put through the emotional wringer this season, way more than last time.

— emma dibdin, Cosmopolitan, "102 Thoughts I Had While Bingeing Stranger Things 2," 27 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wringer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of wringer

14th century

in the meaning defined above

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WRINGER Defined for English Language Learners

wringer

noun

Definition of wringer for English Language Learners

: a machine used for squeezing water out of clothes that have been washed

WRINGER Defined for Kids

wringer

noun wring·er \ ˈriŋ-ər \

Definition of wringer for Students

: a machine or device for squeezing liquid out of something (as laundry)

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See words that rhyme with wringer Spanish Central: Translation of wringer Nglish: Translation of wringer for Spanish speakers

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wringer

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wringer

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wringer

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