pulls 1 of 2

present tense third-person singular of pull
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
3
as in stretches
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure lift the crate carefully, or you'll pull a muscle

Synonyms & Similar Words

pulls

2 of 2

noun

plural of pull
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
3

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
Verb
Dembele’s pace stretches defenses, Olise has developed into one of Europe’s most creative playmakers and Barcola's intelligent movement constantly pulls defenders out of position. Clemente Lisi, Forbes.com, 1 July 2026 As Otto groans, Rhaenrya pulls back and cleaves off Otto's head. Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 29 June 2026 That last flavor is augmented by the whiskey’s higher proof, which veers toward burn but pulls back at the last minute. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 28 June 2026 Carín León sees the World Cup as something that pulls different cultures together. CBS News, 27 June 2026 Any furniture piece that pulls double duty is a worthy investment. Better Homes & Gardens, 27 June 2026 The previous night’s service, in which the entire kitchen pulls together under Sydney’s leadership, crystallized his need to move on. Jake Kring-Schreifels, Time, 26 June 2026 Will pulls Sandoval away by his waist. Yamillah Hurtado, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026 The Plateau and Mile End might be known today for their posh hipsters and nightlife hotspots, but this tour pulls back the curtain on the history found in this part of the city. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 June 2026
Noun
Irwin, who is the sister of former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Trent Irwin, recorded 94 flag pulls and 15 interceptions as a safety. Dan Albano, Oc Register, 26 June 2026 Metadata, logs and API pulls confirm a token was spent and a call was made. Mark Hull, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 Borcherding recommends making sure that the mounting hole width lines up with your existing pulls. Jane Kim, The Spruce, 11 June 2026 Paint the walls, opt for an interesting wallpaper pattern, replace the toilet and vanity, swap out tacky old hardware for stylish knobs and pulls, and install new light fixtures. Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 June 2026 Schrader suggests wiping down cabinetry knobs or pulls, light switches, and doorknobs at least once a month to make your home more sanitary. Ashlyn Needham, Southern Living, 7 June 2026 The leather is accented by tonal crimson suede paisley cutouts and the style also includes extra short Western earn pulls with bullet pull holes. Jaden Thompson, Footwear News, 22 May 2026 So finding a cheap route to the moon has a lot to do with gravity, specifically the gravitational pulls of both Earth and the moon. Julian Dossett, Space.com, 20 May 2026 Hock led the Cobras in receptions, receiving yards and touchdowns this season while sophomore Tatiana Alicea led in total flag pulls. Alex Kushel, Sun Sentinel, 17 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pulls
Verb
  • Having already been booked for a foul on Brobbey, Fofana hauls down Wilson Isidor and earns his club’s eighth red card of the Premier League season.
    Andy Naylor, New York Times, 24 May 2026
  • 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
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
  • Los Angeles stretches its NL West lead to 11 games and maintains MLB’s best record as Ohtani’s star power turns Sacramento’s nominal home crowd into a roaring Dodgers road show.
    Bill Shaikin, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2026
  • The entire design grew around the Ficus Nitida, which stretches from the main deck through an oval void of approximately 172 square feet to the upper deck.
    Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 30 June 2026
Noun
  • Those ⁠vessels are smaller commercial ships, including five smaller oil tankers, coastal ships and tugs, according to analysis of the vessels waiting.
    Reuters, NBC news, 24 June 2026
  • Your 8th House of Intimacy and Resources tugs on play as the intuitive Moon squares messenger Mercury in your 5th House of Creativity.
    Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 23 June 2026
Noun
  • The hillside home has been thoughtfully restored and updated with Scandinavian and Japanese design influences.
    Mark David, Robb Report, 27 June 2026
  • For Sirmans, those influences give the exhibition a particular resonance in Miami.
    Michelle F. Solomon, Miami Herald, 26 June 2026
Noun
  • Lingering Southwest wildfire conditions Elsewhere, thunderstorms expected to track along the heat dome’s edges from the Rockies to the northern Plains, with others forming along the Gulf Coast, could bring temporary afternoon relief, AccuWeather said.
    Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 29 June 2026
  • Rainwater tends to gather along the road edges.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 29 June 2026
Verb
  • There’s a sense that Kaprizov depends too much on Zuccarello and that Zuccarello drags Kaprizov into the east-west game that’s the opposite of how the Wild want to play.
    Michael Russo, New York Times, 24 June 2026
  • As the search drags on, the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners on Tuesday commended police for their efforts after weeks of shooting incidents brought international attention to the city’s gun violence problem as thousands of soccer fans visit for the FIFA World Cup.
    Dylan Lysen, Kansas City Star, 24 June 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pulls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulls. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on pulls

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster