wringer

noun wring·er \ ˈriŋ-ər \

|Updated on: 26 May 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

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
Shiffrin has been through the Olympic wringer once.

— tim layden, SI.com, "Guts Over Fear: An Aggressive State of Mind Helped Mikaela Shiffrin Conquer Her Anxiety On The Slopes," 29 Jan. 2018
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

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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