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
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
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Recent Examples of pulls
Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 20 Mar. 2026
Sunshine, Lemons and Sea Salt pulls people in with her signature breezy style and in-tune culinary sensibilities.
—The Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
This is because a warmer atmosphere pulls more moisture out of soils and plants, deepening droughts.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
But Duke pulls his father out of the way.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
Zuniga pulls from a sonic palette that feels familiar one moment and alien the next.
—Vrinda Jagota, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2026
The Nicole is a top-zipped dome shaped crossbody with a front zipper pocket accented by tassel pulls and a versatile adjustable shoulder strap.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Follow the plant's natural upward growth pattern and avoid attaching vines in a way that stretches or pulls.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 15 Mar. 2026
The no-hair-out-of-place center part pulls back into a pretty knot that ends with an everyday vibe thanks to her ends left loose at the nape of her neck.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 15 Mar. 2026
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
Sheer and lace curtains should be hand-washed in cool water or placed in a mesh laundry bag in a washing machine to prevent snags and pulls.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 11 Mar. 2026
Ceiling dryers with cable pulls or rail systems can be pulled down as required and then pushed back up to the ceiling.
—Melissa Grustat, Architectural Digest, 4 Mar. 2026
Do not forget the freezer handles and drawer pulls.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
For the cordless lamp, choose a base in a contrasting material in a bright color or a metal to match cabinetry pulls.
—Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 27 Feb. 2026
When Gonwa chose to sell, Thorn, 22, felt competing pulls — go see what other restaurant kitchens had to offer, or stay and protect the place that helped raise him.
—Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 23 Feb. 2026
Kids clutched fresh pulls like lottery tickets.
—Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
Verb
At a slim 76 minutes, Sparks pulls you in tight and never lets go, every frame bursting with teen angst and longing.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 20 Mar. 2026
Sunshine, Lemons and Sea Salt pulls people in with her signature breezy style and in-tune culinary sensibilities.
—The Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Mar. 2026
This is because a warmer atmosphere pulls more moisture out of soils and plants, deepening droughts.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026
But Duke pulls his father out of the way.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 20 Mar. 2026
Zuniga pulls from a sonic palette that feels familiar one moment and alien the next.
—Vrinda Jagota, Pitchfork, 19 Mar. 2026
The Nicole is a top-zipped dome shaped crossbody with a front zipper pocket accented by tassel pulls and a versatile adjustable shoulder strap.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 17 Mar. 2026
Follow the plant's natural upward growth pattern and avoid attaching vines in a way that stretches or pulls.
—Barbara Gillette, The Spruce, 15 Mar. 2026
The no-hair-out-of-place center part pulls back into a pretty knot that ends with an everyday vibe thanks to her ends left loose at the nape of her neck.
—Marci Robin, Allure, 15 Mar. 2026
Noun
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
Sheer and lace curtains should be hand-washed in cool water or placed in a mesh laundry bag in a washing machine to prevent snags and pulls.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 11 Mar. 2026
Ceiling dryers with cable pulls or rail systems can be pulled down as required and then pushed back up to the ceiling.
—Melissa Grustat, Architectural Digest, 4 Mar. 2026
Do not forget the freezer handles and drawer pulls.
—Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026
For the cordless lamp, choose a base in a contrasting material in a bright color or a metal to match cabinetry pulls.
—Wendy Rose Gould, Martha Stewart, 27 Feb. 2026
When Gonwa chose to sell, Thorn, 22, felt competing pulls — go see what other restaurant kitchens had to offer, or stay and protect the place that helped raise him.
—Susan Stapleton, Des Moines Register, 23 Feb. 2026
Kids clutched fresh pulls like lottery tickets.
—Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pulls
Verb
-
If your truck regularly hauls gravel, dirt, or furniture, the drawers eat up a lot of bed volume.—
Graham Averill,
Outside,
20 Mar. 2026
-
One officer enters the water to tie a flotation device to Cruz before the pair hauls him out of the murky water and onto a paddleboard.—
Julia Bonavita,
FOXNews.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
According to the footage, Falcinelli then moves toward the officer before the officer yanks him by the arm.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
-
Judy yanks Mikey’s roller trunk out of the mud and leads him toward one of the nearby hiking trails.—
Michael Nied,
PEOPLE,
26 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Transportation Security Administration officers are nearing a breaking point as a weeks-long partial government shutdown stretches on, threatening airport operations in North Texas and leaving workers without pay, union leaders say.—
Marvin Hurst,
CBS News,
25 Mar. 2026
-
In truth, chef-author Ron Hsu, of Atlanta’s Lazy Betty, stretches the influences across multiple parts of East Asia.—
Scott Hocker,
TheWeek,
24 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
If a public request tugs at private feelings, pause to check your boundaries, then accept only what supports family rhythms and true priorities.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
-
And gear that hugs and tugs in all the wrong places doesn’t whisper.—
Marisa McMillan,
Outside,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Samara Weaving returns with sharper edges, this time facing off against four families in a plot that veers toward global domination.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Earth today is a jigsaw of giant chunks of crust that travel across the planet, smashing together like huge bumper cars, pushing up mountain ranges and melting back into magma along their edges.—
Marissa Grunes,
Scientific American,
19 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Transportation Security Administration may have to shut down operations at some airports if the budget impasse drags on, the agency’s acting head said Wednesday, even as record wait times for travelers did little to end the standoff over the funding fight in Congress.—
Kevin Freking,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Taipei is particularly concerned that as the Middle East conflict drags on, American forces are depleting their stockpile of long-range cruise missiles that would be critical to repel a Chinese assault on Taiwan, the Financial Times reported.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
24 Mar. 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
-
That limits air movement, reduces water infiltration, restricts root growth, and weakens biological activity.—
Dr. Avishesh Neupane,
Hartford Courant,
21 Mar. 2026
-
By Thursday night, geomagnetic activity weakens and retreats north, making aurora visibility in Iowa unlikely or very limited.—
Cooper Worth,
Des Moines Register,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pulls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulls. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.
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