wringer

noun

wring·er | \ ˈriŋ-ər

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

Examples of wringer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Hyland’s body has put her through the wringer, forcing her to confront her own lack of control and adjust her goals, expectations, relationships, and self-image to make space for her medical needs. — Zahra Barnes, SELF, "Sarah Hyland Opens Up About Dialysis and Her Second Kidney Transplant," 10 Dec. 2018 But the failures of authoritarian states are often far graver than the problems that preoccupy the professional hand-wringers of the liberal West. — Walter Russell Mead, WSJ, "The ‘Crisis of Democracy’ Is Overhyped," 27 Aug. 2018 The consortium has brought together many research groups who work on various psychiatric diseases, as well as on neurological diseases, and has run their collective data through the wringer. — The Economist, "A big collaboration is trying to understand diseases of the psyche," 28 June 2018 Mistake fare tickets are sometimes honored, so the airline doesn't go through the PR wringer that British Airways is enduring right now. — Meredith Carey, Condé Nast Traveler, "What Booking a 'Mistake Fare' Really Means," 22 June 2018 The British pop star's been through the wringer since the very start of her career. — Brennan Carley, GQ, "On No Shame, Lily Allen Is Writing Her Own Headlines," 17 May 2018 Later, Graham had an old laundry wringer prominently displayed in her office, a gift from her Watergate team. — Alex S. Jones, Town & Country, "Will the Rivalry Between the Washington Post and New York Times Save Journalism?," 9 Aug. 2017 After this emotional wringer of a season, which the odds say should end Sunday afternoon, the Spurs will need to employ that same kind of delicate touch to a series of decisions that often are cold and calculated. — Mike Finger, San Antonio Express-News, "Soon enough, questions await Spurs," 21 Apr. 2018 Rita Braver shares some of the wild stories of currency that has gone through the wringer (or much, much worse). — CBS News, "This week on "Sunday Morning" (April 15)," 13 Apr. 2018

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.