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
Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
This list pulls from Charlotte Observer staff and a social post asking for community feedback.
—Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2026
Hadid’s Cannes wardrobe suggests the tide may finally be turning, with the model embracing bold wrist stacks as the finishing touch that pulls even her most casual looks together.
—Lauren Fisher, Footwear News, 22 May 2026
Marisa Anderson’s latest album of epic, horizon-gazing guitar compositions pulls from an international songbook that includes work from Afghanistan, Vietnam, Yemen, and Cambodia.
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 22 May 2026
But his safecracking work threatens their budding romance and pulls him into increasingly dangerous territory.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 22 May 2026
However, if the consumer pulls back further on discretionary purchases due to gas prices and other factors, Warsh might get some wiggle room to lower rates, arguing that inflation is not as much of a problem if the real engine of the economy starts to slow.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 22 May 2026
Unlike other fans that blow existing air around a room, an exhaust fan pulls existing air out of the area.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 14 May 2026
But remarkably, Harris pulls it off completely — transforming her impossibly hard-to-take premise into the foundation of a rhythmic fantasyland that’s heightened by aesthetic choices functioning more as emotional instruments than maximalist distractions.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 14 May 2026
Olivia Hall, also a senior two-way player, had a TD catch, a number of flag pulls and an interception that snuffed out a Nature Coast scoring chance.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 May 2026
His workout also consists of cable pulls, hanging leg raises, ab wheel rollouts and more.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
Swapping cabinet knobs, drawer pulls and towel hooks is a fast way to modernize the space.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Update Your Mirror or Hardware Swapping cabinet knobs, drawer pulls and towel hooks is a quick project that refreshes the room without a renovation.
—Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Kylie, meanwhile, had some fun with both vintage pulls and merch.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2026
Emotional rug-pulls arrive in the form of happy surprises that stretch the third act too long and test the limits of our disbelief.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026
Emotional rug-pulls arrive in the form of happy surprises that stretch the third act too long and test the limits of our disbelief.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2026
Verb
The aesthetic pulls from track jackets, vintage soccer kits, and club jerseys styled casually.
—Tiana Randall, Forbes.com, 22 May 2026
This list pulls from Charlotte Observer staff and a social post asking for community feedback.
—Charlotte Observer, 22 May 2026
Hadid’s Cannes wardrobe suggests the tide may finally be turning, with the model embracing bold wrist stacks as the finishing touch that pulls even her most casual looks together.
—Lauren Fisher, Footwear News, 22 May 2026
Marisa Anderson’s latest album of epic, horizon-gazing guitar compositions pulls from an international songbook that includes work from Afghanistan, Vietnam, Yemen, and Cambodia.
—Hattie Lindert, Pitchfork, 22 May 2026
But his safecracking work threatens their budding romance and pulls him into increasingly dangerous territory.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 22 May 2026
However, if the consumer pulls back further on discretionary purchases due to gas prices and other factors, Warsh might get some wiggle room to lower rates, arguing that inflation is not as much of a problem if the real engine of the economy starts to slow.
—Zev Fima, CNBC, 22 May 2026
Unlike other fans that blow existing air around a room, an exhaust fan pulls existing air out of the area.
—Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 14 May 2026
But remarkably, Harris pulls it off completely — transforming her impossibly hard-to-take premise into the foundation of a rhythmic fantasyland that’s heightened by aesthetic choices functioning more as emotional instruments than maximalist distractions.
—Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 13 May 2026
Noun
The open floor plan meanders its way around to a cozy family room and a formal dining room, along with a spacious vaulted kitchen featuring Shaker-style cabinetry with gold pulls, an eat-in island, an apron-front sink, and an accompanying breakfast nook.
—Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 14 May 2026
Olivia Hall, also a senior two-way player, had a TD catch, a number of flag pulls and an interception that snuffed out a Nature Coast scoring chance.
—Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 6 May 2026
His workout also consists of cable pulls, hanging leg raises, ab wheel rollouts and more.
—Vanessa Etienne, PEOPLE, 13 Apr. 2026
Swapping cabinet knobs, drawer pulls and towel hooks is a fast way to modernize the space.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 13 Apr. 2026
Update Your Mirror or Hardware Swapping cabinet knobs, drawer pulls and towel hooks is a quick project that refreshes the room without a renovation.
—Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
Kylie, meanwhile, had some fun with both vintage pulls and merch.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 12 Apr. 2026
Emotional rug-pulls arrive in the form of happy surprises that stretch the third act too long and test the limits of our disbelief.
—Katie Walsh, Twin Cities, 21 Mar. 2026
Emotional rug-pulls arrive in the form of happy surprises that stretch the third act too long and test the limits of our disbelief.
—Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pulls
Verb
-
According to the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, the Thunderbirds cost taxpayers about $35 million a year in salaries, aircraft, fuel, rehearsals and the C-17 cargo plane that hauls 50-plus support crew and spare parts to every stop on the tour.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2026
-
While the men are creeping around separately, Jerry is apprehended by a hotel employee, Fergal (Michael Patric), who hauls him off to the police station.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
Verb
-
Like a false note on an out-of-tune piano, a clunky verb, a sentence without rhythm, yanks the reader out the flow of the work.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Maden takes thee wine bottle from him and the officers reach for his wrists but Brown resists and yanks his arms back, the video shows.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This is where the tension stretches tightest.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
-
Waterton Lake stretches blue in both directions, with America’s purple mountains rising to the south.—
Shilo Urban,
Travel + Leisure,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
Gravity from huge superclusters tugs on the motions of galaxies across the universe, drawing them closer.—
Keith Cooper,
Space.com,
4 May 2026
-
Video of the pair's initial greeting at the White House on Monday is circulating online, showing the president firmly grasping hands with the monarch, and giving a few characteristic tugs.—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Grow them in hanging baskets where hummingbirds will drink the nectar from their lantern-like blooms, or in flower beds or containers where the flowers will spill over the edges.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
22 May 2026
-
The goal is to remove the pieces without touching the metal edges, which triggers a buzzer and a flashing red nose.—
Jon Root OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
If the disruption drags on, inventories continue to fall, spare capacity is further depleted, and the margin for error disappears.—
Robert Rapier,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
Being of Haitian descent means understanding kompa music by osmosis, often starting in early childhood when your mom or tatie drags you to dance during some ten-minute Sweet Micky song.—
Olivier Lafontant,
Pitchfork,
18 May 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
-
As complexity rises, decisions fragment, priorities shift and trust weakens.—
Expert Panel®,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
Excluding unhoused people from public spaces reinforces stigma and weakens the social bonds that support stability and recovery.—
Shianne LeClaire,
Hartford Courant,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pulls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulls. Accessed 24 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
