as in fulfilling
to carry through (as a process) to completion
the rebel forces pulled off a surprisingly successful offensive against the better equipped government troops
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Recent Examples of pulling off
There's nothing the couple loves more than pulling off the road to enjoy a local diner or small clam shack.
—
Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2026
Shenzhen is likened to a vibrant harbor for dreamers, and the hotel is pulling off the feat of becoming a gathering place for tech professionals and financial elites.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026
What’s more American than pulling off a victory after a kick in the teeth?
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 25 Feb. 2026
The Miami quarterback was minutes removed from throwing the game-sealing interception that ended UM’s chances of pulling off a comeback to win their sixth national title.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2026
So who and what is Palm Tree Crew, the mysterious entity that’s pulling off the events Billy McFarland could only dream of?
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 21 Jan. 2026
From an early age, her big sister was teaching her all about pulling off a matching moment.
—Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Mastering proportions, for one, is key to pulling off a loose-fitting look without getting lost in it.
—Sri Rain Stewart, InStyle, 13 Jan. 2026
Instead of pulling off a strong road win to lift the team’s spirits, the Rockets saw another close game slip away on the road as the questions about this group’s ability to execute during pivotal moments are only getting louder by the day.
—William Guillory, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 26 Feb. 2026
Shenzhen is likened to a vibrant harbor for dreamers, and the hotel is pulling off the feat of becoming a gathering place for tech professionals and financial elites.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026
What’s more American than pulling off a victory after a kick in the teeth?
—Chicago Tribune, Twin Cities, 25 Feb. 2026
The Miami quarterback was minutes removed from throwing the game-sealing interception that ended UM’s chances of pulling off a comeback to win their sixth national title.
—Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2026
So who and what is Palm Tree Crew, the mysterious entity that’s pulling off the events Billy McFarland could only dream of?
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 21 Jan. 2026
From an early age, her big sister was teaching her all about pulling off a matching moment.
—Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Mastering proportions, for one, is key to pulling off a loose-fitting look without getting lost in it.
—Sri Rain Stewart, InStyle, 13 Jan. 2026
Instead of pulling off a strong road win to lift the team’s spirits, the Rockets saw another close game slip away on the road as the questions about this group’s ability to execute during pivotal moments are only getting louder by the day.
—William Guillory, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pulling off
Verb
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While many of us who are blind or visually impaired live fulfilling, independent lives going to work, school and other activities, our biggest barrier to full participation in society is affordable, reliable transportation.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Feb. 2026
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These are the growing number of young men who are dropouts, do not work or have meaningful or fulfilling jobs, do not marry, have no children, few friends, and live in the basement of their parents’ home.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Rural hospitals among top performers Six of Mercy's rural hospitals, including two in Arkansas, have been included in The Chartis Center for Rural Health's lists of the 100 top-performing rural hospitals across the country.—
Mark Mondier,
Arkansas Online,
1 Mar. 2026
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Across New York, charter schools serving predominantly high-needs Black and Latino students have shown that income doesn’t have to dictate achievement, with strong gains on state exams that rival the highest-performing schools.—
Jacquelyn Martell,
New York Daily News,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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But executing its strategy won’t be easy.—
Xiaoying You,
semafor.com,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The writing didn’t necessarily have a purposeful driving imperative, but the show’s new cast was exceptional, and there were worse things to do than watch Kerry Bishé, Eliza Coupe, Dave Franco and Michael Mosley executing Bill Lawrence’s dialogue and wild tonal shifts.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
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With this route, a debt relief expert will negotiate with creditors on your behalf, often achieving comparable or even better reductions than taking the DIY approach.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
27 Feb. 2026
-
The different procedures have their own risks and benefits, but generally speaking, people with diabetes who receive weight loss surgery lose about 20 percent of their body mass and have significant blood sugar improvements, often achieving lasting diabetes remission.—
Tom Gavin,
EverydayHealth.com,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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That bill is designed to address all 50 of the recommendations the NTSB made — not just the locator technology, but NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy has said the House bill falls short of accomplishing that.—
Josh Funk,
Los Angeles Times,
25 Feb. 2026
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Iowa's dominance in collegiate wrestling The Hawkeyes lead all Iowa schools with 24 team titles at the NCAA Championships, last accomplishing this feat in 2021, and are second all-time, behind Oklahoma State (34).—
Cooper Worth,
Des Moines Register,
17 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The suspects have been carrying out the scheme for at least a month, according to investigators.—
Matthew Rodriguez,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
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Last week, the topic took center stage again when Mehmet Oz, the administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, posted a video accusing Armenian crime groups of carrying out widespread hospice fraud in Los Angeles.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Instead, members devoted every waking breath to restoring Sharia and, by doing so, heralding a new era of blind and impartial justice.—
Anand Gopal,
New Yorker,
28 Feb. 2026
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Eventually, someone or some nation will aggressively stand up to this bully, and the consequences of doing so could be significant for the entire world.—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
28 Feb. 2026
Verb
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In June, his twin sons transferred to his alma mater from a Detroit prep school with hopes of making their papa proud and lifting the town’s spirit.—
Steve Galluzzo,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Feb. 2026
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But, since staying cozy is key for making it through long travel days, the Trendy Queen 2-piece Matching Lounge Set is an excellent alternative that’s more form-fitting without feeling restrictive.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
28 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pulling off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulling%20off. Accessed 3 Mar. 2026.
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