1
as in hauls
to cause to follow by applying steady force on
a team of horses pulling a heavy wagon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in yanks
to draw out by force or with effort
the dentist had to struggle to pull the tooth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in tugs
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force
I gave the door such a pull that when it suddenly opened, I nearly fell backwards
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sways
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly
their lawyer supposedly has a lot of pull with the administration in Washington
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in edges
the more favorable condition or position in a competition
a political candidate with all of the pull that comes with a vast fortune and famous surname
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of pulls
Danielle Parker, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
But earlier versions required long and forceful trigger pulls and had never caught on.
—Simon Akam, Vanity Fair, 2 Apr. 2026
As McCreary pulls the drapes away from a client's neck one by one, the client can see how each color highlights their skin, hair and eyes, or washes them out.
—Bailey Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Apr. 2026
Big Mistakes follows Nicky (Levy) and Morgan (Ortega), two deeply incapable siblings who are in over their heads when a misguided theft for their dying grandmother accidentally pulls them into the world of organized crime.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Apr. 2026
For the full line-up, including member-only screenings, archival pulls, and special partnerships, visit the SFFILM website.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026
If disaster strikes, a powerful abort motor pulls the crew capsule to 500 mph in two seconds.
—Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
Expect all the classic jammy fruits, plus a tannic bow that pulls the finish together.
—Kate Bernot, Outside, 30 Mar. 2026
His new deadline pulls back on an earlier threat to bomb Iran's energy plants if Tehran did not open the waterway.
—Jon Gambrell and David Rising The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 27 Mar. 2026
Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026
Emotional rug-pulls arrive in the form of happy surprises that stretch the third act too long and test the limits of our disbelief.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2026
Sheer and lace curtains should be hand-washed in cool water or placed in a mesh laundry bag in a washing machine to prevent snags and pulls.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 11 Mar. 2026
Ceiling dryers with cable pulls or rail systems can be pulled down as required and then pushed back up to the ceiling.
—Melissa Grustat, Architectural Digest, 4 Mar. 2026
Do not forget the freezer handles and drawer pulls.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
For the cordless lamp, choose a base in a contrasting material in a bright color or a metal to match cabinetry pulls.
—Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 27 Feb. 2026
When Gonwa chose to sell, Thorn, 22, felt competing pulls — go see what other restaurant kitchens had to offer, or stay and protect the place that helped raise him.
—Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 23 Feb. 2026
Kids clutched fresh pulls like lottery tickets.
—Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
But then Vivian abruptly disappears without a trace, sending Taylor on a search for answers that pulls her into the Knox itself—as their new employee.
—Danielle Parker, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2026
But earlier versions required long and forceful trigger pulls and had never caught on.
—Simon Akam, Vanity Fair, 2 Apr. 2026
As McCreary pulls the drapes away from a client's neck one by one, the client can see how each color highlights their skin, hair and eyes, or washes them out.
—Bailey Reed, Louisville Courier Journal, 1 Apr. 2026
Big Mistakes follows Nicky (Levy) and Morgan (Ortega), two deeply incapable siblings who are in over their heads when a misguided theft for their dying grandmother accidentally pulls them into the world of organized crime.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 1 Apr. 2026
For the full line-up, including member-only screenings, archival pulls, and special partnerships, visit the SFFILM website.
—Arushi Jacob, Variety, 1 Apr. 2026
If disaster strikes, a powerful abort motor pulls the crew capsule to 500 mph in two seconds.
—Los Angeles Times, 31 Mar. 2026
Expect all the classic jammy fruits, plus a tannic bow that pulls the finish together.
—Kate Bernot, Outside, 30 Mar. 2026
His new deadline pulls back on an earlier threat to bomb Iran's energy plants if Tehran did not open the waterway.
—Jon Gambrell and David Rising The Associated Press, Arkansas Online, 27 Mar. 2026
Noun
Emotional rug-pulls arrive in the form of happy surprises that stretch the third act too long and test the limits of our disbelief.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026
Emotional rug-pulls arrive in the form of happy surprises that stretch the third act too long and test the limits of our disbelief.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2026
Sheer and lace curtains should be hand-washed in cool water or placed in a mesh laundry bag in a washing machine to prevent snags and pulls.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 11 Mar. 2026
Ceiling dryers with cable pulls or rail systems can be pulled down as required and then pushed back up to the ceiling.
—Melissa Grustat, Architectural Digest, 4 Mar. 2026
Do not forget the freezer handles and drawer pulls.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
For the cordless lamp, choose a base in a contrasting material in a bright color or a metal to match cabinetry pulls.
—Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 27 Feb. 2026
When Gonwa chose to sell, Thorn, 22, felt competing pulls — go see what other restaurant kitchens had to offer, or stay and protect the place that helped raise him.
—Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 23 Feb. 2026
Kids clutched fresh pulls like lottery tickets.
—Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pulls
Verb
-
If your truck regularly hauls gravel, dirt, or furniture, the drawers eat up a lot of bed volume.—
Graham Averill,
Outside,
20 Mar. 2026
-
One officer enters the water to tie a flotation device to Cruz before the pair hauls him out of the murky water and onto a paddleboard.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
According to the footage, Falcinelli then moves toward the officer before the officer yanks him by the arm.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Judy yanks Mikey’s roller trunk out of the mud and leads him toward one of the nearby hiking trails.—
Michael Nied,
PEOPLE,
26 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Another is expected to take shape in Councilmember Rick Jennings’ district, which stretches from Land Park to the Pocket.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Graves’ exit has sparked intense speculation about his potential successor to represent Missouri’s 6th Congressional District, which stretches across northern Missouri and touches Kansas City’s Northland.—
Kacen Bayless,
Kansas City Star,
1 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Scheduling tugs, fuel barges, crane operators, drayage trucks and drivers is complex indeed.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The ship is moved in, slowly and carefully; tugs help, and so does the shipyard crew.—
Carl Nolte,
San Francisco Chronicle,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Rainwater tends to accumulate at the road edges.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
4 Apr. 2026
-
The animation is a little rough around the edges — there’s a shot of wine being poured down a sink where the red liquid is depicted in CGI, for some reason — but the slightly retro style with the characters’ prominent lips and sharp chins added to the camp appeal.—
Wilson Chapman,
IndieWire,
3 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As the war drags on, Americans are growing pessimistic about the economy, according to some surveys and polls.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
1 Apr. 2026
-
And in late February, just as attention began to shift away from Gaza, Israel and the United States launched a joint attack on Iran—a potentially epochal war that may end up dividing Jewish Americans no less than the Gaza war did, particularly if the conflict drags on and casualties mount.—
Eyal Press,
New Yorker,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There are swooping close encounters with heavenly bodies, Lego blocks in antigravity mode and swarms of Separators, a sort of astro-anthropomorphic version of the tool that pries apart Lego bricks in real life.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The show’s biggest laugh may come when Testa pries open Costanzo’s mouth and pronounces just how many performances of Norma Galas has left.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In the state’s view, that weakens or muddies the legal boundary between the two types of gambling venues.—
Amanda Greenwood,
MSNBC Newsweek,
31 Mar. 2026
-
Justice delayed weakens deterrence.—
Romy Ellenbogen,
Miami Herald,
31 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pulls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulls. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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