1
as in hauling
to cause to follow by applying steady force on
a team of horses pulling a heavy wagon
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in prying
to draw out by force or with effort
the dentist had to struggle to pull the tooth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in stretching
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure
lift the crate carefully, or you'll pull a muscle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pulling
The Moon in Sagittarius moves through your 9th House of Perspective, pulling you toward bigger plans and bold ideas that feel exciting.
—
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026
Police tried pulling him over around the area of Beverly and San Vicente boulevards, a major intersection adjacent to the Beverly Center shopping mall and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
The Moon’s move into Sagittarius lights up your 5th House of Creativity, pulling you toward expression, connection, and enjoyment that feels natural.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
Panel members said some or all of the proposals were on track to be voted down, though Mayor Mamdani denies that was the reason for pulling them off the agenda.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 3 May 2026
Automakers have also been pulling back from entry-level models, with several discontinued in recent years.
—Mike Winters, CNBC, 3 May 2026
All of which is great news for Adam Silver and everyone else pulling a paycheck from the league.
—Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026
Seated calf raises can lower post-meal blood sugar spikes by gradually pulling glucose from the bloodstream.
—Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 26 Apr. 2026
The last thing video assistant referee Paul Howard would have wanted was a hair-pulling incident.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Tarot.com, Sun Sentinel, 4 May 2026
Police tried pulling him over around the area of Beverly and San Vicente boulevards, a major intersection adjacent to the Beverly Center shopping mall and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
—Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2026
The Moon’s move into Sagittarius lights up your 5th House of Creativity, pulling you toward expression, connection, and enjoyment that feels natural.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 3 May 2026
Panel members said some or all of the proposals were on track to be voted down, though Mayor Mamdani denies that was the reason for pulling them off the agenda.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 3 May 2026
Automakers have also been pulling back from entry-level models, with several discontinued in recent years.
—Mike Winters, CNBC, 3 May 2026
All of which is great news for Adam Silver and everyone else pulling a paycheck from the league.
—Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 26 Apr. 2026
Seated calf raises can lower post-meal blood sugar spikes by gradually pulling glucose from the bloodstream.
—Mira Miller, Verywell Health, 26 Apr. 2026
The last thing video assistant referee Paul Howard would have wanted was a hair-pulling incident.
—Beren Cross, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pulling
Verb
-
Her social media feed piled up with video after video of polar bear rescues, such as fishermen or scientists hauling a freezing, struggling baby polar bear onto a ship.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
-
The new law, which took effect in October, requires tow truck companies to give owners notice before hauling away a car for minor issues like failing to display an apartment complex’s parking permit or parking in the wrong space.—
Ginny Monk,
Hartford Courant,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The attendant and one of the passengers worked together at prying open the baggage compartment door while the other passenger crawled around the floor, searching in the thick smoke for a cellphone to try to use as a flashlight, according to the statement transcripts.—
Angie DiMichele,
Sun Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Reinforce your privacy fence by layering new fencing on top of existing fencing for an extra layer of protection that will help insulate your backyard from noise as well as prying eyes.—
Kristin Hohenadel,
The Spruce,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
For a century, the 2,448 mile road stretching across eight states and three time zones has been synonymous with mom-and-pop diners and America’s Heartland.—
Audrey Pachuta,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
Olivia Rodrigo has announced North American and European tour dates stretching from the fall into 2027.—
Jazz Monroe,
Pitchfork,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Sam instead proposes that the performer dance to it without music, a prompt that is followed by Anne Hathaway flinging herself across the room, dragging her body across the floor in a hypnotic spectacle that seems to convey struggle, possession, and loss of control.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Even the sleeker Samsonite Proxis feels substantial without dragging you over the limit.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
25 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
After Correa doubled leading off the first against Tanner Bibee, Alvarez followed by yanking a curveball from the right-hander 422 feet over the wall in right field to give the Astros a 2-0 lead that held up for nine innings.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Supporters in labor unions and in the House soon began yanking their endorsements.—
Michelle Cottle,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The crisis is straining already struggling economies across Africa.—
Ivana Kottasová,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
-
Since the start of the conflict with Iran, gasoline prices in California and across the country have increased by more than $1 a gallon, straining already tight family budgets.—
Ryan Cummings,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Love & Other Drugs (2010) Edward Zwick’s Love & Other Drugs is a mixed bag, attempting to skewer the pharmaceutical world at the advent of Viagra while also being a heart-tugging romantic comedy.—
Chris Feil,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
Having the peace of mind that your top won’t distract you by shifting or tugging makes bodysuits a worthwhile office attire investment.—
Kevin Huynh,
InStyle,
12 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That lets the term be understood in a range of ways, whether a corporate-friendly approach to conservation, or a new way to talk about extracting marine resources, sustainably or otherwise.—
Natalie Sum Yue Chung,
Fortune,
3 May 2026
-
Compared to apples or pears, which require extracting and cleaning multiple seeds from the core, these single pits make seed-saving far more straightforward.—
Rachel Silva,
Martha Stewart,
1 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pulling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulling. Accessed 7 May. 2026.
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