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
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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
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Recent Examples of pluck
PC Magazine, 16 June 2025
First: Be heartened by the pluck and guile the Nuggets showed against the Thunder three weeks ago.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 9 June 2025
Brian Steinberg, Variety, 16 Jan. 2026
Directed by Key, the video finds Yellowcard and Joel Madden rocking out inside a teen room plucked straight from the early-aughts.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pluck
Noun
The opening acoustic guitar plucks get strong low-mid resonance to sound nice and big, while the higher frequencies receive enough attention to convey string texture.
—PC Magazine, 16 June 2025
First: Be heartened by the pluck and guile the Nuggets showed against the Thunder three weeks ago.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 9 June 2025
Verb
Anheuser Busch InBev’s Budweiser often features stately Clydesdale horses, who often appear in commercials that pluck heartstrings or offer a patriotic tribute.
—Brian Steinberg, Variety, 16 Jan. 2026
Directed by Key, the video finds Yellowcard and Joel Madden rocking out inside a teen room plucked straight from the early-aughts.
—Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pluck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pluck
Noun
-
The Timberwolves can present a defensive nightmare for the Bulls — a dueling center duo balanced by high-level shooting guards, all revolving around the weighty gravitational pull created by Anthony Edwards.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Many agree the pull is emotional.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Defense of humanity requires courage, moral clarity and our unwavering action.—
Bernard Cherkasov,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Jan. 2026
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And some poor choices have not diminished the status of the Norwegian Nobel Committee as the international arbiter of moral courage.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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In any case, makers of non-AI systems could potentially be squeezed into this definition, so all software and systems developers should be mindful of whether their automation could fall into this zone.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
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The loss of those supplies — and the hard currency Havana earned by reselling part of them — has further squeezed an already fragile economy.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
24 Jan. 2026
Noun
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In addition, the city’s Fourth of July fireworks show requires barge and tug services and marine safety coordination, adding to the overall cost.—
Susannah Bryan,
Sun Sentinel,
4 Jan. 2026
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Throughout the night, the two teams continued to play a game of tug of war with neither team giving the other an inch.—
Mukala Kabongo,
Boston Herald,
4 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
The grit is hidden behind the gowns.—
Alice Newbold,
Vogue,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Postseason football is defined by grit and narrow margins.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
University of Miami fans, still stinging after a dramatic loss to Indiana in the national championship football game, turned their attention to the men’s basketball team on Tuesday night.—
Michelle Kaufman,
Miami Herald,
20 Jan. 2026
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If someone gets stung, they're advised to notify a lifeguard and immerse the area in hot water to reduce pain.—
Dean Fioresi,
CBS News,
19 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Effectively, this turned the workspace into a yank buffer along with all your documents, and undoing any destructive editing operation thus became merely another cut and paste.—
Cameron Kaiser,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Visitors to China will want to lighten their grip, while folks introducing themselves to Germans should know to stop after one firm downward yank.—
Chris Ciolli,
AFAR Media,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
This writer is constantly moved, and always impressed, by the diligence and fortitude exhibited by the designers of Ukrainian fashion.—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
17 Jan. 2026
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Miller, too, questioned his team’s mental fortitude.—
David Eckert,
Austin American Statesman,
17 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pluck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pluck. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
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