1
as in pull
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 & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in courage
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 & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to squeeze
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 & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of pluck
Philip Elliott, TIME, 25 Feb. 2025
In 2015, an exceedingly polite, marmalade-slurping fellow in a floppy felt hat and blue duffel coat arrived in theaters and offered an uplifting story about tolerance and pluck.
—Brooks Barnes, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
Greta Bjornson, People.com, 12 June 2025
Seafood—and sea vegetables—are readily plucked from the ocean, while the earth is cultivated for staples like rice and soybeans.
—Yukari Sakamoto, AFAR Media, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pluck
Noun
Yes, Republicans have been getting an earful from their districts, but those skirmishes are going to look perfectly benign compared to what a vindictive Trump could unleash for lawmakers who show too much pluck.
—Philip Elliott, TIME, 25 Feb. 2025
In 2015, an exceedingly polite, marmalade-slurping fellow in a floppy felt hat and blue duffel coat arrived in theaters and offered an uplifting story about tolerance and pluck.
—Brooks Barnes, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
Verb
The animal rescue wrote on Facebook that the gull's tail feathers and flight feathers had been plucked from its body, resulting in some blood loss — and a large black swastika symbol had been painted in the middle of its head.
—Greta Bjornson, People.com, 12 June 2025
Seafood—and sea vegetables—are readily plucked from the ocean, while the earth is cultivated for staples like rice and soybeans.
—Yukari Sakamoto, AFAR Media, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for pluck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pluck
Noun
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
Police in Largo shared a video of the encounter, as Officer Christopher Martinez, from Long Island, tried to work up the courage to hold the alligator.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
-
If any courage is left at the Bar’s elegant headquarters in Tallahassee, the Bondi exemption should be rescinded.—
The Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2025
Verb
-
Despite remaining hugely cash-generative at the operating level, outgoings on player transfers, loan interest and the £50million investment at the Carrington training ground have squeezed their ability to spend quite so readily as in the past.—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
17 June 2025
-
Team-building is not about squeezing sufficient value out of every single contract or assembling a roster of yes men.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
16 June 2025
Noun
-
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
-
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
Noun
-
The Lakers, however, showed grit despite losing Chamberlain to a knee injury, and got within 103-102 with a little more than three minutes remaining.—
The Athletic NBA Staff,
New York Times,
22 June 2025
-
But Walters shattered those barriers through her grit and wits.—
Stephen Battaglio,
Los Angeles Times,
20 June 2025
Verb
-
What to know: Free to enter; no lifeguards or facilities and the salty water can sting cuts or irritate sensitive skin.—
Allison Palmer,
Sacbee.com,
17 June 2025
-
The Atlanta Braves have won consecutive series since dropping six in a row, though losing Sunday’s series finale to the Rockies despite Grant Holmes’ 15 strikeouts stung.—
Tim Britton,
New York Times,
16 June 2025
Noun
-
Four yanks later, voila: Clayton had pulled free his prize, leaving just a single strand of nylon stuck in the Alamodome rim.—
Brendan Marks,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Each blade has a pull tab at the top of its cartridge; just give it a gentle yank to remove it.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Coco Gauff showcased her unrivaled fortitude in a grueling French Open triumph.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
10 June 2025
-
No Hollywood producer is scrambling for a script about the mental fortitude of a Chiefs regime that was overhauled after losing the most games in team history.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pluck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pluck. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.
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