tugged; tugging
1
: to pull or strain hard or forcefully at
felt someone tugging my sleeve
tugged the cord until it came out of the socket
3
: to tow with a tugboat
tugger
noun
tugrik, tugriks
Examples of tug in a Sentence
Verb
I felt someone tugging on my sleeve.
She tugged the cord until the plug came out of the wall socket.
Noun
He felt a gentle tug on his sleeve.
gave the man in front a tug on his shirtsleeve as a sign that he was supposed to step aside
Recent Examples on the Web
Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
On the other hand, Venus’s entry into your domestic sector could tug you closer to home.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2026
Zak Keefer, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
This reaction only happens when a massive population feels the tug of emotion all at the same time.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tug
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Verb
Favorite moment of Games The Olympics are full of heart-tugging moments but none were better than Elana Meyers Taylor standing on the podium after winning the gold medal in women’s monobob.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
On the other hand, Venus’s entry into your domestic sector could tug you closer to home.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 10 Feb. 2026
Noun
In the seven days leading up to the giant slalom competition, Pinheiro Braathen kept feeling a tug, as if the universe was trying to tell him something.
—Zak Keefer, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2026
This reaction only happens when a massive population feels the tug of emotion all at the same time.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tug
Cite this Entry
“Tug.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tug. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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