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.
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Recent Examples of pull
Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
Unlacquered brass pulls will also bring out the richness in light ochre, and a lightly veined marble or creamy quartz will add softness, keeping the entire palette feeling expansive.
—Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2025
Matter clumped and clustered together under the relentless pull of gravity, and structures grew and grew on progressively larger scales.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pull
Verb
Footage from the mosque’s door camera shows two people in balaclavas arriving at the entrance a short time later, pulling the door handle and pushing the door several times, the manager said.
—Laura Sharman, CNN Money, 5 Oct. 2025
Unlacquered brass pulls will also bring out the richness in light ochre, and a lightly veined marble or creamy quartz will add softness, keeping the entire palette feeling expansive.
—Tessa Cooper, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2025
Noun
There’s a magnetism to the pull.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2025
Matter clumped and clustered together under the relentless pull of gravity, and structures grew and grew on progressively larger scales.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 3 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pull
Verb
-
Marc Márquez finally hauled himself back to the pinnacle of MotoGP in Japan last weekend, capping one of sport’s most arduous comeback stories with an almost flawless title charge.—
Jonathan Hawkins,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Soldiers hauled them onto the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, along with their K Ration kits, which contained treats like coffee, cigarettes, and something closer to commercial chocolate—also made by Hershey, naturally.—
Diana Hubbell,
Popular Science,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Deafening whistles soundtracked the final nine minutes of Sunday’s clash after Grealish’s goal, the game stretching into the 102nd minute before the time was called.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
6 Oct. 2025
-
These calls stretch beyond the Milwaukee area as well.—
David Clarey,
jsonline.com,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Firefly makes rockets, space tugs and lunar landers.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
-
There is a tug of war underway for their hearts and minds.—
Steven P. Dinkin,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The questions remain, however, as to the extent of such interest rate cuts amid more political influence.—
Nick Thomas,
The Washington Examiner,
3 Oct. 2025
-
China is turning climate action into industrial advantage, financial leverage, and geopolitical influence.—
Felicia Jackson,
Forbes.com,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Securing the Shield ensures the top seed for Philly and home-field advantage throughout the MLS Cup playoffs for a team that has quietly gone about a consistent season without grabbing much in the way of attention.—
The Athletic Staff,
New York Times,
5 Oct. 2025
-
For today’s leaders, this means approaching every critical business decision with a mindset that considers how AI can deliver a competitive advantage.—
Derya Matras,
Fortune,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
With marker John McGinn behind him, the midfielder attempted to drag the ball back and evade the challenge.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
If the shutdown drags on for more than a few days, a report on inflation scheduled for mid-October could also be delayed.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Annoyed Detroit ticketholders reacted Wednesday on YoungBoy fan sites after the LCA show was yanked from the tour schedule.—
Brian McCollum,
Freep.com,
2 Oct. 2025
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Previously, Neil Young and Joni Mitchell yanked their music off the service to protest Joe Rogan’s podcast at the height of the pandemic for supposedly spreading misinformation about the Covid vaccine.—
Roy Trakin,
Rolling Stone,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
This ultimately hurts the American people, the people who pay their salaries.—
Nicole Russell,
USA Today,
2 Oct. 2025
-
But the sale also diminishes some hopes that Berkshire would buy Oxy in its entirety, potentially hurting the stock.—
Jordan Blum,
Fortune,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pull. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.
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