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
Meanwhile, Morgan's hopes of pulling off her surprise for Uncle Tommy get sacked.
—
Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
Louisville should climb into the rankings after pulling off the upset.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
But Altieri was looking through him, down at the ground, where Maricarmen was pressing her hand to the side of Rey’s bleeding face, and Carmelo was pulling off his T-shirt, handing it over to her.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
The best curvy denim skirts The right fit is key to pulling off a denim skirt of any variety, but finding the right one requires time and research.
—Avery Matera, Glamour, 10 Oct. 2025
Unlike the effort that still goes into TikTok (even with the use of other AI apps), Sora in seconds and with no external sourcing besides your own face creates personalized videos where you can be seen pulling off a lot more than dance moves.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
If Colorado wins the turnover battle, its chances of pulling off an upset increase.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2025
Trump has already shown his pragmatic side by pulling off a deal to keep TikTok in business in the US.
—semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2025
But that didn’t stop them from pulling off a history-making win.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 25 Sep. 2025
Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
Louisville should climb into the rankings after pulling off the upset.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
But Altieri was looking through him, down at the ground, where Maricarmen was pressing her hand to the side of Rey’s bleeding face, and Carmelo was pulling off his T-shirt, handing it over to her.
—Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
The best curvy denim skirts The right fit is key to pulling off a denim skirt of any variety, but finding the right one requires time and research.
—Avery Matera, Glamour, 10 Oct. 2025
Unlike the effort that still goes into TikTok (even with the use of other AI apps), Sora in seconds and with no external sourcing besides your own face creates personalized videos where you can be seen pulling off a lot more than dance moves.
—Dominic Patten, Deadline, 9 Oct. 2025
If Colorado wins the turnover battle, its chances of pulling off an upset increase.
—Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2025
Trump has already shown his pragmatic side by pulling off a deal to keep TikTok in business in the US.
—semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2025
But that didn’t stop them from pulling off a history-making win.
—Kimberly Wilson, Essence, 25 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pulling off
Verb
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Following too closely in its protagonist’s footsteps, The Queen of Versailles presents only two options — tough but spiritually fulfilling material deprivation or unconstrained acquisitiveness.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
10 Nov. 2025
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Being able to be with one of the biggest artists Puerto Rico has ever had in such a special month dedicated only to us is fulfilling to the heart.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Inside, a lavish cocktail reception featured ice sculptures and live music by 35 musicians from the Philharmonic Orchestra of Puerto Rico, performing familiar compositions with a Latin twist.—
Sarah Jones,
PEOPLE,
6 Jan. 2026
-
Asked to select indicators that show how well a school is performing, most respondents pointed to student grade-level performance, student academic growth over time and graduation rates.—
Bruce Rauner,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Currently, there is no information available regarding the size of area burned or the crew executing the prescribed fire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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The brokers who win are the ones who keep believing, keep executing, and never let the pressure change their approach.—
Allen Buchanan,
Oc Register,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Put a Monogram on It The key to achieving a personalized home lies in those little details.—
Tessa Cooper,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Jan. 2026
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Fixating on the outcome and then having trouble achieving that goal can be discouraging.—
Gillian Mohney,
Verywell Health,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Venture capital, of course, is hardly the only realm where people can get very rich without accomplishing much.—
Emma Burleigh,
Fortune,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Here, however, Makowsky examines a purely ignoble figure who feels entitled without accomplishing a thing.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
6 Nov. 2025
Verb
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On Wednesday, meanwhile, Bovino was spotted in Minneapolis where more than 1,000 immigration agents were carrying out an enforcement action there.—
Jason Meisner,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Jan. 2026
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He is also expected to announce a major shift in how the state oversees education, unifying the policymaking State Board of Education with the California Department of Education, which is responsible for carrying out those policies.—
Melody Gutierrez,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But that’s what a player should be doing.—
Matt Byrne,
Arkansas Online,
9 Nov. 2025
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This year, the majority of players have been wearing poppies on their shirts from October 23 through to November 11, though individuals are free to decide against doing so.—
Eduardo Tansley,
New York Times,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
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The prosecutor’s spokesperson said Yeo was making excuses that did not make sense about the notes discovered on his mobile phone.—
Reuters 2 hr ago,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
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The water pressure then causes the vehicle to rise and slide on a thin layer of water between the tires and the road, making the driver lose control.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pulling off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulling%20off. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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