Synonyms of pull

pull 1 of 2

verb

ˈpu̇l 

1

as in to haul

to cause to follow by applying steady force on

a team of horses pulling a heavy wagon

Synonyms & Similar Words

• haul
• drag
• tug
• draw
• tow
• carry
• attract
• lug
• move
• heave
• yank
• hale
• convey
• transport
• jerk
• ferry

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• push
• drive
• propel
• thrust
• shove

2

as in to pry

to draw out by force or with effort

the dentist had to struggle to pull the tooth

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pry
• yank
• extract
• pluck
• remove
• tear (out)
• uproot
• prize
• take (out)
• wring
• wrest
• root (out)
• withdraw
• corkscrew
• mine

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• insert
• install
• instill
• implant
• stuff
• jam
• ram
• wedge
• cram

3

as in to stretch

to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure

lift the crate carefully, or you'll pull a muscle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stretch
• hurt
• damage
• strain
• weaken
• rack
• wrench
• bruise
• tear
• wound
• fray
• impair
• tax
• harm
• cripple
• batter
• mutilate
• mangle
• lame

pull

2 of 2

noun

1

as in tug

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

• tug
• yank
• wrench
• jerk
• draw
• haul
• pluck
• grab
• tow
• drag
• hitch
• snatch
• twitch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• push
• thrust
• shove
• heave

2

as in influence

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

• influence
• sway
• leverage
• credit
• in
• weight
• authority
• clout
• juice
• importance
• heft
• dominance
• impress
• moment
• reign
• impression
• impact
• command
• mastery
• counterinfluence
• dominion
• predominance
• sovereignty
• supremacy
• consequence
• imprint
• scepter
• eminence
• mark

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• weakness
• helplessness
• impotence
• powerlessness
• impotency

3

as in advantage

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

• advantage
• edge
• jump
• opportunity
• drop
• odds
• start
• stead
• bulge
• upper hand
• vantage
• better
• lead
• high ground
• coign of vantage
• whip hand
• inside track
• margin
• privilege
• superiority
• catbird seat
• head start
• dominance
• allowance
• benefit
• ascendancy
• transcendence
• foothold
• prerogative
• mastery
• leg up
• precedence
• predominance
• break
• seniority
• supremacy
• command
• preference
• windfall
• transcendency
• godsend
• blessing
• manna
• boon
• felicity

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• strike
• disadvantage
• penalty
• liability
• minus
• handicap
• drawback
• let
• detriment
• failing
• imbalance
• disparity
• catch
• disability
• stop
• check
• inequality
• stranglehold
• rub
• interference
• impairment
• hitch
• bar
• obstruction
• obstacle
• shortcoming
• hindrance
• impediment
• hurdle
• embarrassment
• unevenness
• setback
• shackle
• crimp
• clog
• lurch
• trammel
• manacle

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of pull

Verb

The fish gives you polish, but the chimichurri pulls it back toward Argentina, toward the grill, toward the street. — Rafael Peña, Miami Herald, 15 July 2026

Junior tasks are quickly being automated by tech, and companies are pulling back on their pipelines for young talent. — Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 15 July 2026

Noun

If anything, the higher the stakes, the stronger the pull toward external explanation. — Joy Nissen, Forbes.com, 10 July 2026

Satellites perform a delicate dance to maintain their orbit, by locking themselves to a speed just fast enough to counteract the downward pull of gravity. — Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 9 July 2026

Phrases Containing pull

• pull a face
• pull down
• pull in
• pull off
• pull one's leg
• pull out
• pull round
• pull stakes
• pull the wool over one's eyes
• pull together
• pull up
• pull up stakes