1
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pull
Sydney Lake, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2025
The second session Thursday saw Tagovailoa and the offense bounce back to pull even with the Lions defense.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2025
Alex Shoemaker, Parents, 28 Aug. 2025
In any event, you’re being called to create a healthy balance between your desire for comfort and the undeniable pull of your goals and dreams.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pull
Verb
Many tech companies pull from previous job descriptions and resume submissions to poach top talent, explained Bates, who also authored Augmented Mind about the relationship between humans and AI.
—Sydney Lake, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2025
The second session Thursday saw Tagovailoa and the offense bounce back to pull even with the Lions defense.
—David Furones, Sun Sentinel, 17 Aug. 2025
Noun
That constant pull between belonging and exclusion is what gives the term power.
—Alex Shoemaker, Parents, 28 Aug. 2025
In any event, you’re being called to create a healthy balance between your desire for comfort and the undeniable pull of your goals and dreams.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 27 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pull
Verb
-
Under pressure throughout the final set, Sabalenka just about hauled herself over the line, an ace setting up match point.—
Charlie Eccleshare,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
-
There’s been a lot of dirt piled up and hauled out.—
Eric Adler,
Kansas City Star,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Counsell said the right-hander would start in the bullpen but stay stretched out in case the team needs an extra starter.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Sep. 2025
-
That storm, still the one to beat, towered more than a mile into the sky, stretched across nearly 100 miles of the desert at times and deposited 40,000 tons of dust across Phoenix.—
Shaun McKinnon,
AZCentral.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
When the state attorney’s office steps in, the prosecution pushes back, resulting in a legal and political tug of war that thrusts Adnan’s case into chaotic uncertainty.—
Peter White,
Deadline,
3 Sep. 2025
-
Several noted that his instinctive tug had likely prevented the pair from colliding with the elk.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Complaints were made about senior managers having allegedly no influence over budget control and a lack of autonomy, while it was claimed that the approvals process for spending was taking too long.—
Laurie Whitwell,
New York Times,
14 Aug. 2025
-
His influence is considered second only to Zelenskyy, and he has even been accused of making personnel moves that not even Zelenskyy is fully aware of.—
Chris Massaro,
FOXNews.com,
14 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Shielding lithium-rich cathodes Lithium-rich layered oxides (LRMO) have drawn attention for their high capacity and cost advantages.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
30 Aug. 2025
-
But at least Cassellius and the rest of MPS leadership have had the advantage of responding to problems everyone agrees need to be solved.—
Alan J. Borsuk,
jsonline.com,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The cousin tried to drag Guzman away, and saw the shooter walk back inside the house.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Mitchell was then dragged outside to the valet area, and a female Hyatt employee grabbed a broomstick and struck Mitchell with it.—
Chris Ramirez,
jsonline.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In fact, Labyrinth was yanked from some theaters less than a month after its release.—
Logan Karlie
September 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Sep. 2025
-
After deciding to take his family to a tourist town for some fun in the sun, a minor encounter with local bullies yanks the family into the crosshairs of an unhinged, blood-thirsty crime boss (Sharon Stone), who is determined to derail his relaxation.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Although Hill later attributed his end-of-season outburst to frustration due to a fractured wrist that ailed him all season and the Dolphins’ lack of a playoff berth, his actions likely hurt many of his teammates.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
4 Sep. 2025
-
Yet even in the face of these losses, many retailers remain hesitant to modernize their approach to returns, fearing that stricter policies could hurt customer satisfaction.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pull. Accessed 5 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share