as in pull
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force
had to give the shoe a good yank to get it off
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to jerk
to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion
she stupidly yanked the wheel while I was driving
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to pull
to draw out by force or with effort
yanked out a tooth with a pair of pliers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to grab
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
grab the other one, and let's see if we can't yank these two grocery carriages apart
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of yank
Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
Now the big question is whether all the regulators pulling on the buckles and loops of Boeing’s straitjacket, with a potential yank from Justice to come, will seriously delay what looked like the start of strong comeback.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024
Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 28 May 2025
Even though waxing is tolerable, having a numbing cream applied over the hair and skin about 20 minutes before the wax is applied is supposed to help manage the discomfort of having the wax yanked off.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for yank
Noun
Only the snarl of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 will give away that this wagon’s packing 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of yank.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
Now the big question is whether all the regulators pulling on the buckles and loops of Boeing’s straitjacket, with a potential yank from Justice to come, will seriously delay what looked like the start of strong comeback.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024
Verb
Daboll meddled and yanked away play calling from Kafka multiple times during the 2023 season, even giving it to quarterbacks coach Shea Tierney for the second half of a bad road loss at Dallas.
—Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 28 May 2025
Even though waxing is tolerable, having a numbing cream applied over the hair and skin about 20 minutes before the wax is applied is supposed to help manage the discomfort of having the wax yanked off.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for yank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yank
Noun
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Namesake Home’s Emma dresser had the perfect measurements for our space, and that, along with its white finish and pretty pulls are what really sold us on the piece.—
Briana Feigon,
Architectural Digest,
19 June 2025
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Los Angeles does have the pull of being a big market and one of the most stories franchises in the NBA.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 June 2025
Verb
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More often than not, the jerking movements to get free only bring the meal into contact with more points of sticky contact.—
Riley Black,
Smithsonian Magazine,
6 June 2025
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Then stage two involves jerking movement, spasms, loss of vision, dementia, and seizures.—
Beth Mole,
ArsTechnica,
5 May 2025
Verb
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In the few months since its launch, JD.com has grabbed 7.5% of China’s food-delivery market after its daily meal orders reached 20 million on May 13, according to a May 14 research note from Blue Lotus Capital Advisors.—
Yue Wang,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
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In Monday night’s first quarter after falling to the court, Haliburton winced and grabbed his lower right leg.—
Shakeia Taylor,
New York Times,
17 June 2025
Noun
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Marine Group officials wanted to demonstrate that converting similarly sized tugs from diesel to electric can be replicated by other companies, such as excursion boats and dinner cruises.—
Rob Nikolewski,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 June 2025
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That, in turn, scuttled the main objective of the mission — having the Otter rendezvous with the Launcher tug down the road.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
21 May 2025
Verb
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The early symptoms include muscle weakness, cramps, twitching, stiff muscles, speech challenges, trouble swallowing, and drooling.—
Alyce Collins,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
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Camouflaged among desert rocks, the deadly illusionist extends its spider-like tail into the open and twitches it to summon hungry insect-eating birds.—
Ryley Graham,
Smithsonian Magazine,
29 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Born and raised in a tiny town northeast of Toronto, she was plucked out of a concert crowd by two modeling scouts.—
John McDermott,
HollywoodReporter,
19 June 2025
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Several productive players already were plucked from portal during SDSU’s coaching search, so Vance will need to act quickly to improve the roster.—
Kirk Kenney,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 June 2025
Verb
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If Powell and the Fed are dovish (more rate cuts, not less), stocks could easily rip higher.—
Adam Sarhan,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2025
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All-Time Anniversary Twelve years ago, Ray Allen hit The Shot On this date, back in 2013, one of the greatest shots in basketball history ripped through the net.—
Zach Harper,
New York Times,
18 June 2025
Verb
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The world is lurching toward autocracy, with alarming speed.—
Elisa Manfredini,
Time,
14 June 2025
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In the final moments, Molly lurches forward into this brave new world, with nothing but the overalls on her back and her best friend who can barely start her car.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
9 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Yank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yank. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.
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