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
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 pulling
The same numbers powering that rally show capital pulling further ahead of labor.
—
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 10 May 2026
The digital twin created for one of Rajasthan’s largest state utilities mapped 5 million grid assets—poles, lines, transformers, and network infrastructure—by pulling together feeder, meter, and billing data previously stored in separate silos.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Surveillance footage reviewed by police appeared to show a gray Hyundai Tucson pulling alongside the victims’ vehicle before shots were fired, according to the report.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
Once all went awry on the offramp, the driver may have prevented the wreck by pulling the emergency brake.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2026
Begin pulling the zip tool back out of the drain slowly.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 8 May 2026
At one point, Zendaya briefly listed the home as a luxury rental for $12,900 per month before eventually pulling it off the market.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 8 May 2026
Including setup for the frame and the remaining assembly for the sides and the headboard, everything took about 45 minutes to complete—though be aware that the upholstery was so snug that pulling it into place was like fitting a stubborn sock.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 8 May 2026
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
Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 10 May 2026
The digital twin created for one of Rajasthan’s largest state utilities mapped 5 million grid assets—poles, lines, transformers, and network infrastructure—by pulling together feeder, meter, and billing data previously stored in separate silos.
—Ken Silverstein, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Surveillance footage reviewed by police appeared to show a gray Hyundai Tucson pulling alongside the victims’ vehicle before shots were fired, according to the report.
—Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
Once all went awry on the offramp, the driver may have prevented the wreck by pulling the emergency brake.
—Jake Goodrick, Sacbee.com, 9 May 2026
Begin pulling the zip tool back out of the drain slowly.
—Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 8 May 2026
At one point, Zendaya briefly listed the home as a luxury rental for $12,900 per month before eventually pulling it off the market.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 8 May 2026
Including setup for the frame and the remaining assembly for the sides and the headboard, everything took about 45 minutes to complete—though be aware that the upholstery was so snug that pulling it into place was like fitting a stubborn sock.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 8 May 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pulling
Verb
-
That means it's built for open roads and longer commutes, not for locking up at a bike rack or hauling up a stairwell.—
Omar Kardoudi
May 08,
New Atlas,
8 May 2026
-
The collision separated the truck's cab from the trailer, which appeared to be hauling a large pavement grinder.—
Kris Habermehl,
CBS News,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
It’s built with recycled aluminum and features a camera privacy shutter to keep your secret identity safe from prying eyes.—
Juhi Wadia,
PC Magazine,
8 May 2026
-
There’s still all this nonsense about the temptation of the female body, and the need for nuns to shield themselves from prying eyes.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
The Moon in Capricorn moves through your 3rd House, opposing Jupiter in your 9th, stretching the gap between details and interpretation.—
Tarot.com,
Baltimore Sun,
7 May 2026
-
Meteor showers occur on a predictable schedule each year, with some lasting for mere days and others stretching on for weeks.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA Today,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Travelers end up dragging coats through museums or try to shove them into already full suitcases before a train transfer.—
Chantelle Kincy,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
-
That’s led to a stark split between Wall Street analysts and energy experts, who have been warning that oil supplies could head off a cliff in the coming months or even weeks, dragging the global economy down in the process.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Essentially, yanking gravity away is another tool, just like temperature or pressure, that drug manufacturers can apply to improve their products.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
13 May 2026
-
Now, the Sentinel has learned, Florida is taking an inconsistent approach to cleaning up its mess, yanking the licenses of 47 nurses who attended schools cited by the FBI but allowing others to keep working, even when it has been alerted to their shortcomings.—
Annie Martin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
About eight in 10 respondents said gas prices are straining their household budgets, and 63% blame Trump for that increase given the war with Iran.—
Domenico Montanaro,
NPR,
9 May 2026
-
The Amalfi Coast draws millions of tourists each year — and the surge is now straining the region.—
Andrea Margolis,
FOXNews.com,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
The rejection hit me hard—the story, of the daughter of a celebrity chef who moves to a small town after being adopted by her older brother, was really tugging at my heartstrings.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
7 May 2026
-
Earlier this month, Chelsea Women’s head coach Sonia Bompastor took umbrage with Arsenal’s Katie McCabe tugging the locks of Alyssa Thompson during a Champions League tie.—
Phil Hay,
New York Times,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
And a system that works for Californians instead of extracting from them.—
Kaitlyn Schallhorn,
Oc Register,
4 May 2026
-
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
Cite this Entry
“Pulling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulling. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
