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
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Recent Examples of pull
Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023
As ghosts, fate and the sheer power of true love pull Nicholas and Isabel together, so too does life threaten to tear them apart.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2023
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2025
Each failure rekindled the gravitational pull of an existential, pitiless struggle.
—Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pull
Verb
During the event, Riley wore black boots, a black dress, held a black and gold bag, and rocked a pair of massive gold hoops to pull it all together.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023
As ghosts, fate and the sheer power of true love pull Nicholas and Isabel together, so too does life threaten to tear them apart.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2023
Noun
The Wednesday Florida Lotto pull will have a $28.25 million jackpot.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2025
Each failure rekindled the gravitational pull of an existential, pitiless struggle.
—Hussein Agha, New Yorker, 22 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pull
Verb
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In 2021, the rocket was originally announced as a 130-foot-tall (40 m) booster that could haul up to 18,000 pounds (8,000 kg) to LEO, and up to 4,400 pounds (2,000 kg) to the moon.—
Tariq Malik,
Space.com,
29 Aug. 2025
-
Deputies and volunteer firefighters rushed to pound on doors and rouse people as the river hauled entire homes away, occupants trapped inside.—
Jennifer Berry Hawes,
ProPublica,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Originally expected to be a three-month rental for filming, COVID-19 delays stretched the family’s time away from home to around 11 months.—
Brendel Clark,
Freep.com,
23 Aug. 2025
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The disparity is not like division play, as Sankey pointed out, when for long stretches one division was much stronger than the other, and teams played most of their games against their own division.—
Seth Emerson,
New York Times,
22 Aug. 2025
Noun
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Meanwhile, Japan's Defense Ministry reported recent Russian naval movements around the country, where a formation of three vessels—a submarine, a frigate, and a rescue tug—was spotted passing through the Tsushima Strait between Wednesday and Thursday, local time.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Aug. 2025
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Images from Japanese public broadcaster NHK showed tugs spraying water on the front of the New Orleans.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The effort to remove Cook comes as the administration has unleashed a campaign against diversity, equity and inclusion, and intensifies Trump's ongoing effort to gain influence over the U.S. central bank and push it to lower interest rates.—
Ann Saphir,
Freep.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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Nvidia's second-quarter earnings report is expected to have significant influence on S&P 500 and options-market expectations.—
Peter Cohan,
Forbes.com,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
My only advice is to do your homework and know there are advantages and disadvantages associated with any medical procedure.—
Bryant Stamford,
The Courier-Journal,
29 Aug. 2025
-
On the next play, Brown found the end zone on a 15-yard keeper for a 24-7 advantage.—
Rachel Roberts,
Idaho Statesman,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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The ex-boyfriend is accused of dragging the woman by her hair to the car, while the second man allegedly took her wallet.—
Sacbee.com,
Sacbee.com,
28 Aug. 2025
-
Pack everything into 48 hours, survive on airport food, collapse in whatever hotel room the company booked, then drag yourself home.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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See, for example, Trump yanking the security clearances of former Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency director Chris Krebs for his defense of the 2020 election as securely run.—
Rob Pegoraro,
PC Magazine,
30 Aug. 2025
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This status explains why Moody’s Investors Service yanking away Washington’s last AAA rating in May didn’t tank the dollar.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
28 Aug. 2025
Verb
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Investigators say the woman driving the Traverse suffered minor injuries, but the drivers of the other two vehicles were not hurt, officials said.—
Mark Price,
Miami Herald,
25 Aug. 2025
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The alcohol measure was tied to the percentage of residents who reported at least occasional heavy or binge drinking, and this measure also hurt Arizona.—
Russ Wiles,
AZCentral.com,
25 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pull. Accessed 4 Sep. 2025.
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