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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pulls
Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
The Farktop Trench Coat is a true fall staple that instantly pulls an outfit together and makes even sweats look polished.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 5 Sep. 2025
Sewell has been working with the Science of Wellness program from IFF for the past three years, which pulls from more than 40 years of neuroscientific research into how scents can influence the brain’s emotional and memory senses.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
Built around an all-in performance by Tedeschi, who repeatedly seems on the brink of going full Nicolas Cage but always pulls back at the last moment, Duse is an enjoyable but somewhat opaque take on an enigmatic Italian legend.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025
The movie pulls a few nifty tricks with that item, catching ghosts in reflections that can’t be seen in the room and vice versa, though the best mirror scene is one in which Judy is left alone in a changing room lined with them while trying on a wedding dress.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
The Alienware 34 Curved QD-OLED Gaming Monitor (AW3423DWF) instantly pulls you into games with its ultrawide curved screen that makes everything feel more cinematic.
—Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
Bigelow pulls the film together with the exactitude of a fighter pilot.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 3 Sep. 2025
For the map, the team uses a data model that pulls from historical and forecasted temperature and precipitation data, and also takes into consideration regional tree types, long-term trends, and user data.
—Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
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
Verb
Early’s script pulls from TV movies like Kate’s Secret and Perfect Body, while also referencing classic cinema like Suddenly, Last Summer and The Children’s Hour.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 7 Sep. 2025
The Farktop Trench Coat is a true fall staple that instantly pulls an outfit together and makes even sweats look polished.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 5 Sep. 2025
Sewell has been working with the Science of Wellness program from IFF for the past three years, which pulls from more than 40 years of neuroscientific research into how scents can influence the brain’s emotional and memory senses.
—Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 4 Sep. 2025
Built around an all-in performance by Tedeschi, who repeatedly seems on the brink of going full Nicolas Cage but always pulls back at the last moment, Duse is an enjoyable but somewhat opaque take on an enigmatic Italian legend.
—Damon Wise, Deadline, 4 Sep. 2025
The movie pulls a few nifty tricks with that item, catching ghosts in reflections that can’t be seen in the room and vice versa, though the best mirror scene is one in which Judy is left alone in a changing room lined with them while trying on a wedding dress.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
The Alienware 34 Curved QD-OLED Gaming Monitor (AW3423DWF) instantly pulls you into games with its ultrawide curved screen that makes everything feel more cinematic.
—Shubham Yewale, PC Magazine, 4 Sep. 2025
Bigelow pulls the film together with the exactitude of a fighter pilot.
—Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 3 Sep. 2025
For the map, the team uses a data model that pulls from historical and forecasted temperature and precipitation data, and also takes into consideration regional tree types, long-term trends, and user data.
—Brittany Anas, Forbes.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pulls
Verb
-
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
-
Thing rebels against his master and yanks out his clockwork heart.—
Jessica M. Goldstein,
Vulture,
4 Sep. 2025
-
After deciding to take his family to a tourist town for some fun in the sun, a minor encounter with local bullies yanks the family into the crosshairs of an unhinged, blood-thirsty crime boss (Sharon Stone), who is determined to derail his relaxation.—
Billie Melissa,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
What began as a handful of campus groups now stretches across more than 3,500 high schools and universities, supported by dozens of full-time staff who manage student activists like a professional sales force.—
Samantha-Jo Roth,
The Washington Examiner,
12 Sep. 2025
-
That means afternoon tailgating could get soaked at Hard Rock Stadium for the UM-USF football matchup, although the weather will be improving for the game itself that starts late afternoon and stretches into the evening.—
Howard Cohen,
Miami Herald,
12 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Kavya tugs on my arm, her nose is scrunched up, eyebrows discombobulated.—
Navdeep Singh Dhillon,
Parents,
21 Aug. 2025
-
Images from Japanese public broadcaster NHK showed tugs spraying water on the front of the New Orleans.—
Brad Lendon,
CNN Money,
21 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
Chase Joynt is a non-fiction filmmaker and writer who works at the edges of genre.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Today, crews continued to make significant progress improving fire lines along the southern, eastern, and western edges of the fire.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Maybe his rehabilitation drags.—
Dennis Lin,
New York Times,
10 Sep. 2025
-
The North Carolina General Assembly returned Tuesday for the first time since last month, as a budget stalemate between the House and Senate drags on.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Even for someone used to covering for her daughter’s wrongdoings, Tracey is remarkably self-possessed as Laura pries mercilessly into her life and accuses Cherry of every crime under the sun.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Any delay in release weakens hatchlings and affects their survival rates.—
M. Rajshekhar,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Beyond 100 people, culture often fragments, communication distorts and the founder’s vision weakens.—
Jonathan Low,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pulls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulls. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share