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 challenge is less about pulling people off the street and more about improving the quality and capacity of training and integration of Ukrainian infantry into combat brigades.
—
Jack Watling, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2025
After pulling between your teeth to enjoy, the pods are discarded.
—Tammy Algood, Southern Kitchen, 11 Nov. 2025
And the political disagreement that ignited it — steep rises in health insurance premiums that will kick in next year — will squeeze Americans already pulling back.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 11 Nov. 2025
Outside of his ’fits, one of Lyles’ other attention-grabbing moves is pulling Yu-Gi-Oh!
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 11 Nov. 2025
The aftermath proved a political toppling of dominoes, ultimately leading to local broadcast companies pulling Kimmel's show from their lineups.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
Most of an editor’s time is consumed by laborious tasks like repeatedly reviewing footage, pulling selects, and assembling, which drains creative energy.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 10 Nov. 2025
Bernstein is more cautious on earnings results from competitors, Burlington Stores and Ross Stores , given their exposure to the lower-income consumer who is pulling back on spending.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
Koa could be seen smiling and running as his dad chased him, later pulling Koa in for a hug and turning him upside down.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
Jack Watling, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2025
After pulling between your teeth to enjoy, the pods are discarded.
—Tammy Algood, Southern Kitchen, 11 Nov. 2025
And the political disagreement that ignited it — steep rises in health insurance premiums that will kick in next year — will squeeze Americans already pulling back.
—Liz Hoffman, semafor.com, 11 Nov. 2025
Outside of his ’fits, one of Lyles’ other attention-grabbing moves is pulling Yu-Gi-Oh!
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 11 Nov. 2025
The aftermath proved a political toppling of dominoes, ultimately leading to local broadcast companies pulling Kimmel's show from their lineups.
—Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 10 Nov. 2025
Most of an editor’s time is consumed by laborious tasks like repeatedly reviewing footage, pulling selects, and assembling, which drains creative energy.
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 10 Nov. 2025
Bernstein is more cautious on earnings results from competitors, Burlington Stores and Ross Stores , given their exposure to the lower-income consumer who is pulling back on spending.
—Paulina Likos, CNBC, 10 Nov. 2025
Koa could be seen smiling and running as his dad chased him, later pulling Koa in for a hug and turning him upside down.
—Hannah Sacks, PEOPLE, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pulling
Verb
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But, in a year that has already seen multiple political assassinations, the deployment of the National Guard to American cities, and masked agents of the federal government hauling people off the streets and into unmarked vans, the prospects for a peaceful anniversary appear remote.—
Jill Lepore,
New Yorker,
10 Nov. 2025
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The vehicle was hauling 21 monkeys that day, and eight of them escaped.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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At one end of the table, Gioele Moro of the Czech Academy of Sciences is gently prying loose moths from the depths of a trap.—
Glenn Zorpette,
IEEE Spectrum,
4 Nov. 2025
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Maybe our mild response had simply reminded her of the world’s perpetually prying gaze.—
James Marcus,
New Yorker,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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He was first elected to the House in 1992, and now represents an inland district stretching from the southern Riverside suburbs to Palm Springs.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Without stretching their budget, travelers can enjoy 22 miles of pristine coastline or cross the bridge to hop on a shuttle with Explore Jax Core Tours, where the city’s history, culture, and future unfold through vivid storytelling and physical representation.—
Essence,
Essence,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Apart from being walking-friendly enough for commuting to and from the office, the relatively comfortable heel also gives your denim, maxidresses, and trousers a little lift, keeping hems from dragging.—
Shelby Ying Hyde,
Glamour,
11 Nov. 2025
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Introducing a 50-year mortgage could help individuals and families facing higher borrowing and homeownership costs, but experts warn that any benefit could be easily outweighed by dragging on payments for 20 years longer than the standard 30-year term.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Video of that incident shows a man identified by police as Calhoon lunging across the table, yanking it toward him and flipping it on its side while Turning Point promotional materials spilled onto the pavement.—
Peter D'Abrosca,
FOXNews.com,
7 Nov. 2025
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Ciattarelli promises to lower energy costs immediately by yanking the state out of a regional greenhouse gas initiative, as well as any other environmental policy that voters are sick of.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The shutdown has forced 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 TSA officers to work without pay, straining operations at major airports.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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Even in the wealthiest countries populations are aging and straining key social systems.—
Sarah McCammon,
NPR,
2 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The aim is practical comfort that could help new parents spend less time adjusting straps or tugging at seams and more time getting through a list that changes by the hour.—
Footwear News,
Footwear News,
11 Nov. 2025
-
Alcaras, meanwhile, keeps tugging at loose threads.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Rather than extracting knowledge from Indigenous communities, the Memory Keepers Medical Discovery Team works in collaboration with community members.—
Holly J. McDede,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
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The motion of the bead against the rod causes the atoms/molecules/electrons to rub against one another, producing heat through friction, and thereby providing a method for extracting energy from the gravitational waves.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
7 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pulling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulling. Accessed 12 Nov. 2025.
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