pluck

1 the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force a quick pluck pulled the hair right out Synonyms draw, haul, jerk, pull, tug, wrench, yankRelated Words drag, tow; hitch, twitch; grab, snatchNear Antonyms heave, shove, thrustAntonyms push

2 the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship it takes pluck to survive a crippling car accident and still go on to become successful Synonyms backbone, constancy, fiber, grit, grittiness, guts, intestinal fortitude, fortitude, spunkRelated Words determination, purposefulness, resoluteness, resolution; bravery, courage, courageousness, daring, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, gallantry, greatheartedness, intrepidity, intrepidness, nerve, stoutness, valor; endurance, forbearance, stamina, sufferance, tolerance; heart, mettle, spirit; audacity, boldness, brass, cheek, chutzpah (also chutzpa or hutzpah or hutzpa), effrontery, gall, hardihood, nerve, nerviness, temerityNear Antonyms indecisiveness, irresoluteness, irresolution, vacillation; cowardice, cowardliness, cravenness, dastardliness, faintheartedness, pusillanimity, timidity, timorousnessAntonyms spinelessness

to rob by the use of trickery or threats the Internet opened up a whole new medium for con artists to pluck the gullible Synonyms beat, bilk, bleed, cheat, chisel, chouse, con, cozen, defraud, diddle, do, do in, euchre, fiddle, flimflam, gaff, gyp, hose [slang], hustle, mulct, nobble [British slang], fleece, ream, rip off, rook, screw, shake down, short, shortchange, skin, skunk, squeeze, stick, stiff, sting, sucker, swindle, thimblerig, victimizeRelated Words extort, wrench, wrest, wring; clip, gouge, nick, overcharge, soak; exploit, milk; deceive, dupe, fool, gull, trick; rope (in); betray, bitch, double-cross; bamboozle, fast-talk