1
as in hauls
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 yanks
to draw out by force or with effort
the dentist had to struggle to pull the tooth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in tugs
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force
I gave the door such a pull that when it suddenly opened, I nearly fell backwards
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in sways
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly
their lawyer supposedly has a lot of pull with the administration in Washington
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in edges
the more favorable condition or position in a competition
a political candidate with all of the pull that comes with a vast fortune and famous surname
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pulls
Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
About a minute later, the officer reaches in the vehicle, pulls the woman out and takes her to the ground.
—Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Mar. 2026
This is particularly true of season two, which not only ups the violence and adds original plot lines but also pulls from across the manga’s nearly 30 years of publication to bring characters and events into the storymuch earlier.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
Victor pulls a gun on the monster, but his bullet hits Elizabeth, who stepped in to protect it.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
Protect Hardware When Painting Painting can result in a real mess when stray streaks and drips land on handles, knobs, and pulls.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
Zenday's dress featured a dramatic off-the-shoulder neckline, gathered ruching that pulls toward one side of the dress, and a slit that rises just above the thigh.
—Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
The story pulls viewers into a world where the past refuses to stay buried and every revelation raises the stakes.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2026
Everything worked out in the end—and wedding culture was changed forever—but needless to say, the wedding episode pulls the curtain back in spectacular fashion.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 6 Mar. 2026
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 11 Mar. 2026
Ceiling dryers with cable pulls or rail systems can be pulled down as required and then pushed back up to the ceiling.
—Melissa Grustat, Architectural Digest, 4 Mar. 2026
Do not forget the freezer handles and drawer pulls.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
For the cordless lamp, choose a base in a contrasting material in a bright color or a metal to match cabinetry pulls.
—Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 27 Feb. 2026
When Gonwa chose to sell, Thorn, 22, felt competing pulls — go see what other restaurant kitchens had to offer, or stay and protect the place that helped raise him.
—Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 23 Feb. 2026
Kids clutched fresh pulls like lottery tickets.
—Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
Matchup zones, schematic chair-pulls, deep drop coverages and hard hedges and a bit of everything in between.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
Carney is leading his own effort to form, in effect, a third superpower that can resist the gravitational pulls of both the United States and China.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
The LeMans pulls to a halt right where the camera can look through the open passenger window.
—Literary Hub, 13 Mar. 2026
About a minute later, the officer reaches in the vehicle, pulls the woman out and takes her to the ground.
—Elizabeth Campbell, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Mar. 2026
This is particularly true of season two, which not only ups the violence and adds original plot lines but also pulls from across the manga’s nearly 30 years of publication to bring characters and events into the storymuch earlier.
—Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026
Victor pulls a gun on the monster, but his bullet hits Elizabeth, who stepped in to protect it.
—Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026
Protect Hardware When Painting Painting can result in a real mess when stray streaks and drips land on handles, knobs, and pulls.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 12 Mar. 2026
Zenday's dress featured a dramatic off-the-shoulder neckline, gathered ruching that pulls toward one side of the dress, and a slit that rises just above the thigh.
—Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 12 Mar. 2026
The story pulls viewers into a world where the past refuses to stay buried and every revelation raises the stakes.
—Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 11 Mar. 2026
Everything worked out in the end—and wedding culture was changed forever—but needless to say, the wedding episode pulls the curtain back in spectacular fashion.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 6 Mar. 2026
Noun
Sheer and lace curtains should be hand-washed in cool water or placed in a mesh laundry bag in a washing machine to prevent snags and pulls.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 11 Mar. 2026
Ceiling dryers with cable pulls or rail systems can be pulled down as required and then pushed back up to the ceiling.
—Melissa Grustat, Architectural Digest, 4 Mar. 2026
Do not forget the freezer handles and drawer pulls.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
For the cordless lamp, choose a base in a contrasting material in a bright color or a metal to match cabinetry pulls.
—Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 27 Feb. 2026
When Gonwa chose to sell, Thorn, 22, felt competing pulls — go see what other restaurant kitchens had to offer, or stay and protect the place that helped raise him.
—Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 23 Feb. 2026
Kids clutched fresh pulls like lottery tickets.
—Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
Matchup zones, schematic chair-pulls, deep drop coverages and hard hedges and a bit of everything in between.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
Carney is leading his own effort to form, in effect, a third superpower that can resist the gravitational pulls of both the United States and China.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pulls
Verb
-
This photo shows off the staggering scale of SLS, the VAB, and the crawler-transporter vehicle that hauls the rocket to and from the launch pad.—
Brett Tingley,
Space.com,
27 Feb. 2026
-
After the gating email, Otto hauls Harper in for a talking-to.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
According to the footage, Falcinelli then moves toward the officer before the officer yanks him by the arm.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Judy yanks Mikey’s roller trunk out of the mud and leads him toward one of the nearby hiking trails.—
Michael Nied,
PEOPLE,
26 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The 2nd District stretches from the central part of the state west to the Mississippi River and is considered a Democratic stronghold, setting Thompson up to win his 18th congressional term.—
JEFF AMY AND SOPHIE BATES THE ASSOCIATED PRESS,
Arkansas Online,
11 Mar. 2026
-
The veteran Swedish defender reads play early, organizes the defensive line and rarely panics when San Diego’s aggressive pressing scheme stretches the field.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
If a public request tugs at private feelings, pause to check your boundaries, then accept only what supports family rhythms and true priorities.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
-
And gear that hugs and tugs in all the wrong places doesn’t whisper.—
Marisa McMillan,
Outside,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For a more permanent solution, Wang recommends sewing the edges of the sheets together and leaving an opening to stuff the bed with fabric scraps or old clothes.—
Louise Parks,
Martha Stewart,
13 Mar. 2026
-
Weed the edges around the sidewalk regularly and trim shrubs and grass that hang over the sidewalk because their shade can promote mold and moss growth.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Mary Lattimore’s harp spangles the background, while Camille Getz drags her violin across the track, a clever acoustic rendering of a classic shoegaze guitar squeal.—
Sadie Sartini Garner,
Pitchfork,
11 Mar. 2026
-
There’s a level of helplessness that drags up, being surrounded by AI tools and AI updates and AI jobs, only to be faced with an idiot parent or friend or casual acquaintance using AI to justify their shitty actions towards you.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There are swooping close encounters with heavenly bodies, Lego blocks in antigravity mode and swarms of Separators, a sort of astro-anthropomorphic version of the tool that pries apart Lego bricks in real life.—
Dewayne Bevil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Feb. 2026
-
The show’s biggest laugh may come when Testa pries open Costanzo’s mouth and pronounces just how many performances of Norma Galas has left.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
And if the economy deteriorates and the labor market materially weakens at the same time?—
Allie Canal,
NBC news,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Without this supply from the updraft, the storm weakens and dissipates.—
Mary Wasson,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pulls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulls. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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