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
Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 6 Mar. 2026
Smith works with jewelers and secondhand dealers to purchase and loan pieces, pulls from her own vast collection, and has partnerships with luxury brands like Omega, Rado, Cartier, Hublot, Longines, and Apple.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
That win, coupled with Boston’s 6-3 loss in Nashville, pulls the Jackets to within one point of the Bruins for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
If China pulls this off, then the tech could allegedly offer a perpetual fountain of clean energy while potentially turning the destructive storms into manageable weather events.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Mar. 2026
Sherlock himself has been incarcerated, much to the dismay of his older brother Mycroft (Max Irons), a civil servant who pulls a few strings to get Sherlock out of prison.
—Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
As gravity pulls this gas together, new stars ignite — gradually using up all the galaxy's star-forming fuel.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 4 Mar. 2026
According to Ballmann, research shows that music pulls your attention away from your body sensations and toward the lyrics, vocals, and instrumental sounds.
—Julia Ries Wexler, Outside, 4 Mar. 2026
Nearby, a contemporary work by Mexican artist Jorge Pardo pulls the room firmly into the present.
—David Morris, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2026
Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 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
Matchup zones, schematic chair-pulls, deep drop coverages and hard hedges and a bit of everything in between.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
Carney is leading his own effort to form, in effect, a third superpower that can resist the gravitational pulls of both the United States and China.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2026
Verb
Everything worked out in the end—and wedding culture was changed forever—but needless to say, the wedding episode pulls the curtain back in spectacular fashion.
—Jessica Radloff, Glamour, 6 Mar. 2026
Smith works with jewelers and secondhand dealers to purchase and loan pieces, pulls from her own vast collection, and has partnerships with luxury brands like Omega, Rado, Cartier, Hublot, Longines, and Apple.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 6 Mar. 2026
That win, coupled with Boston’s 6-3 loss in Nashville, pulls the Jackets to within one point of the Bruins for the second wild-card spot in the Eastern Conference.
—Aaron Portzline, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
If China pulls this off, then the tech could allegedly offer a perpetual fountain of clean energy while potentially turning the destructive storms into manageable weather events.
—Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 4 Mar. 2026
Sherlock himself has been incarcerated, much to the dismay of his older brother Mycroft (Max Irons), a civil servant who pulls a few strings to get Sherlock out of prison.
—Emily Zemler, Los Angeles Times, 4 Mar. 2026
As gravity pulls this gas together, new stars ignite — gradually using up all the galaxy's star-forming fuel.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 4 Mar. 2026
According to Ballmann, research shows that music pulls your attention away from your body sensations and toward the lyrics, vocals, and instrumental sounds.
—Julia Ries Wexler, Outside, 4 Mar. 2026
Nearby, a contemporary work by Mexican artist Jorge Pardo pulls the room firmly into the present.
—David Morris, Travel + Leisure, 4 Mar. 2026
Noun
Before cleaning the handles, knobs, or drawer pulls, consider the hardware material.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, The Spruce, 4 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
Matchup zones, schematic chair-pulls, deep drop coverages and hard hedges and a bit of everything in between.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 21 Feb. 2026
Carney is leading his own effort to form, in effect, a third superpower that can resist the gravitational pulls of both the United States and China.
—Simon Shuster, The Atlantic, 18 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pulls
Verb
-
This photo shows off the staggering scale of SLS, the VAB, and the crawler-transporter vehicle that hauls the rocket to and from the launch pad.—
Brett Tingley,
Space.com,
27 Feb. 2026
-
After the gating email, Otto hauls Harper in for a talking-to.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 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
-
And the impact stretches far beyond the Middle East.—
Marnie Hunter,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
-
Congressional District stretches from Concord to Greensboro and is currently represented by Republican Addison McDowell.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
4 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
-
The venue The wedding took place at the First African Baptist Church on the northern edges of Cumberland Island.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Dashboard edges, door pockets, cupholders, footwells and trims can all contain LED lighting.—
Beth Livesay,
AJC.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The attacks on Iran have already sent US gasoline prices higher, and will likely continue to climb as the war drags on.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
4 Mar. 2026
-
That's straining operating costs and ticket prices, both of which could become more expensive if airlines have to pay more for fuel the longer the war drags on.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 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
-
And if the economy deteriorates and the labor market materially weakens at the same time?—
Allie Canal,
NBC news,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Without this supply from the updraft, the storm weakens and dissipates.—
Mary Wasson,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pulls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulls. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
