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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of pulls
Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2025
The cheese pulls everything together, giving it an extra salty and savory depth.
—Stephanie Ganz, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025
Electrolyte Imbalance Creatine causes water retention and pulls water away from the rest of your body.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 8 Nov. 2025
The best spots have a silence that pulls you inside yourself.
—Vanita Salisbury, AFAR Media, 6 Nov. 2025
If there are ever more than 21 named storms in a season, the WMO pulls from a list of supplemental names.
—Mason Leath, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2025
The city’s median household income is roughly $80,000, while the average is around $128,000 because the top end pulls it up.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
With the pair, Brown pulls the double play for the third time in his career, and first instance since 2014.
—Trevor Anderson, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2025
Few properties manage to be both storybook and slightly surreal—but Seaton Place Farm, a 200-year-old estate in Virginia’s Hunt Country, pulls it off.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 3 Nov. 2025
Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
Make sure to clean and polish knobs and pulls.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
Thanks to some vintage pulls from Marge’s high school wardrobe, Lisa becomes a style icon at Springfield Elementary, gaining her admission to the school’s exclusive fashion club.
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 28 Sep. 2025
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
Verb
Tankaneo Long Trench Coat A long trench instantly pulls any outfit together, and this one does it with a fresh, fashion-forward edge.
—Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 9 Nov. 2025
The cheese pulls everything together, giving it an extra salty and savory depth.
—Stephanie Ganz, Southern Living, 9 Nov. 2025
Electrolyte Imbalance Creatine causes water retention and pulls water away from the rest of your body.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 8 Nov. 2025
The best spots have a silence that pulls you inside yourself.
—Vanita Salisbury, AFAR Media, 6 Nov. 2025
If there are ever more than 21 named storms in a season, the WMO pulls from a list of supplemental names.
—Mason Leath, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2025
The city’s median household income is roughly $80,000, while the average is around $128,000 because the top end pulls it up.
—Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025
With the pair, Brown pulls the double play for the third time in his career, and first instance since 2014.
—Trevor Anderson, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2025
Few properties manage to be both storybook and slightly surreal—but Seaton Place Farm, a 200-year-old estate in Virginia’s Hunt Country, pulls it off.
—Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 3 Nov. 2025
Noun
Low-Quality Fixtures Finishes and fixtures—like faucets and lights, to door hardware and drawer pulls—might seem like an easy place to save on cost, but experts, designers, and Redditors alike often warn that cheap fixtures will quickly reveal their flaws.
—Lauren Bengtson, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Oct. 2025
Make sure to clean and polish knobs and pulls.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 3 Oct. 2025
Thanks to some vintage pulls from Marge’s high school wardrobe, Lisa becomes a style icon at Springfield Elementary, gaining her admission to the school’s exclusive fashion club.
—Andy Swift, TVLine, 28 Sep. 2025
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
-
In Neil Jordan’s underrated romance, Farrell plays Syracuse, a fisherman and divorced dad who one day hauls up a mysterious woman out of the water.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
30 Oct. 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
-
Suddenly, someone in the audience yanks her violently into the screaming mass of people.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
10 Oct. 2025
-
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
Verb
-
At its center is a mysterious oligarch whose influence stretches across Manhattan and beyond – protected by a network of fixers, enablers and a brilliant young strategist.—
Erik Pedersen,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
-
At its center is a mysterious oligarch, whose influence stretches across Manhattan and beyond – protected by a network of fixers, enablers and a brilliant young strategist.—
Leia Mendoza,
Variety,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Less obvious is how the Earth itself tugs at the solid rocky surface of the moon.—
Nola Taylor Tillman,
Space.com,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Throughout his time at the Palace, several women have reported feeling tugs on their hair or having the sensation that someone is lingering right over their shoulder.—
Maggie Menderski,
Louisville Courier Journal,
8 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
These changes, as well as, wearing bangs were a major key to keeping her edges strong.—
Essence,
Essence,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Rainwater tends to gather along the road edges.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
7 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
His speech comes as Miami-Dade has become a political pawn as the shutdown drags on.—
Claire Heddles,
Miami Herald,
5 Nov. 2025
-
The longer the shutdown drags on, the more likely disruptions become.—
Jalen Williams,
Freep.com,
4 Nov. 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
-
Lee was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy at age 2, a degenerative disease that gradually weakens muscles.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Unlike some of the burger chain’s peers, Cramer said McDonald’s has immense scale and strength and is making an effort to lower prices as consumer spending weakens.—
Julie Coleman,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pulls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulls. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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