1
as in hauls
to cause to follow by applying steady force on
a team of horses pulling a heavy wagon
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of pulls
Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Keeping her word, Adriana is initially on her best behavior, especially with Kiki, who pulls Adriana to apologize for putting a math equation on her birthday cake that gave away her age.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
The Heirloom Coat Soft Wool Cashmere For chillier days, a structured wool coat pulls your look together.
—Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2025
And Marie Claire Tran-Leung, who leads the Evictions Initiative Project at the National Housing Law Project, stresses the importance of protections for tenants as prices spike higher in many jurisdictions and the federal government pulls back on housing efforts.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
But what pulls us to the writer’s room, to Charles Dickens’s study at the Charles Dickens Museum in Holborn, London, for example?
—Katie Da Cunha Lewin
september 26, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
Their Super Natural Hairline Silky Straight Glueless Wig pulls this off effortlessly, blending instant polish with true boss energy.
—Noel Cymone Walker, StyleCaster, 25 Sep. 2025
While this one only comes in two sizes (55-inch and 65-inch), one big difference between the Canvas and Frame is that this pulls from the device’s collection and doesn’t require a subscription to display art.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 25 Sep. 2025
Coach Bart pulls the boy aside.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
While club masseurs and physios were kept busy dealing with his team-mates’ pulls and strains, Salah’s only demands were around preparation and ensuring his body was ready for whatever Klopp had to throw at him the following day.
—Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
The first-team All-County linebacker in ’24 led the Lancers in flag pulls, grabbed eight interceptions, and still caught 20 TDs.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2025
The former material pops from directly above the foot and is matched by the color on one of the two heel pulls and the heel of the midsole.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Verb
This can be as simple as bodyweight movements, resistance bands or dumbbells, focusing on compound/functional movements like squats, pushes and pulls.
—Melissa Rudy, FOXNews.com, 27 Sep. 2025
Keeping her word, Adriana is initially on her best behavior, especially with Kiki, who pulls Adriana to apologize for putting a math equation on her birthday cake that gave away her age.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Sep. 2025
The Heirloom Coat Soft Wool Cashmere For chillier days, a structured wool coat pulls your look together.
—Alesandra Dubin, Travel + Leisure, 26 Sep. 2025
And Marie Claire Tran-Leung, who leads the Evictions Initiative Project at the National Housing Law Project, stresses the importance of protections for tenants as prices spike higher in many jurisdictions and the federal government pulls back on housing efforts.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
But what pulls us to the writer’s room, to Charles Dickens’s study at the Charles Dickens Museum in Holborn, London, for example?
—Katie Da Cunha Lewin
september 26, Literary Hub, 26 Sep. 2025
Their Super Natural Hairline Silky Straight Glueless Wig pulls this off effortlessly, blending instant polish with true boss energy.
—Noel Cymone Walker, StyleCaster, 25 Sep. 2025
While this one only comes in two sizes (55-inch and 65-inch), one big difference between the Canvas and Frame is that this pulls from the device’s collection and doesn’t require a subscription to display art.
—Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 25 Sep. 2025
Coach Bart pulls the boy aside.
—Matthew Shen Goodman, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
There were four big money lottery draw games Friday, but Cash4Life, Jackpot Triple Play, Mega Millions and Fantasy 5 pulls produced only a jackpot winner for a player at a Publix.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 21 Sep. 2025
While club masseurs and physios were kept busy dealing with his team-mates’ pulls and strains, Salah’s only demands were around preparation and ensuring his body was ready for whatever Klopp had to throw at him the following day.
—Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025
The first-team All-County linebacker in ’24 led the Lancers in flag pulls, grabbed eight interceptions, and still caught 20 TDs.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 16 Aug. 2025
The former material pops from directly above the foot and is matched by the color on one of the two heel pulls and the heel of the midsole.
—Ian Servantes, Footwear News, 3 Sep. 2019
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pulls
Verb
-
While Alex is reeling from his discovery, Dwayne attacks him and hauls him away.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Henry is surprised by the reaction of the crowd, which hauls him outside to drown him in the well for sticking his nose in clan matters.—
Lincee Ray Published,
EW.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
In each Whatever After novel, a magic portal yanks the main character, Abby, out of her comfortable life and thrusts her into another reality.—
Sarah Mlynowski,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Thing rebels against his master and yanks out his clockwork heart.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In her lyrics, Swift nods to the road Gallatin Pike, a turnpike for commercial traffic that stretches from East Nashville up through Hendersonville.—
Audrey Gibbs,
Nashville Tennessean,
3 Oct. 2025
-
As detention stretches on, Kordia said it’s been difficult to follow developments in the war, let alone maintain contact with relatives caught in the conflict.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Firefly makes rockets, space tugs and lunar landers.—
Samantha Subin,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Here, fat-tire bicycles seem to outnumber cars, hours are measured in sunscreen applications and tugs on fishing lines, and island nightlife belongs to nesting sea turtles.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
24 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Rainwater tends to accumulate at the road edges.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Rainwater tends to gather along the road edges.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
If the shutdown drags on for more than a few days, a report on inflation scheduled for mid-October could also be delayed.—
Scott Horsley,
NPR,
1 Oct. 2025
-
In a letter to agencies last week, the budget office instructed them to prepare for possible layoffs if the impasse drags on.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
30 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Yuhas said rubbing could trigger keratoconus, an eye condition that weakens the cornea.—
Stephanie Brown,
Verywell Health,
30 Sep. 2025
-
And the thymus gland, the producer of white blood cells, shrinks and weakens over time.—
Jocelyn Solis-Moreira,
Flow Space,
30 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pulls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulls. Accessed 5 Oct. 2025.
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