1
as in pushes
to apply force to (someone or something) so that it moves in front of one
the cat thrust her paw under the couch, trying to reach her toy mouse
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
2
as in rises
to move or extend upward
the butte thrusts up 300 feet from the floor of the valley
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 thrusts
Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 13 May 2026
Built in 2001, the coaster boasts a 3,365-foot track with a 232-foot drop that thrusts riders to a top speed of 85 miles per hour.
—Finch Walker, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Bond investors are exacting a heavy price from three of Europe's largest economies, which are struggling with a credibility crisis as the Iran conflict thrusts government borrowing back into the spotlight.
—Hugh Leask, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
Whereas the original book trilogy saw Tris choose Dauntless, the faction of bravery, in The Sixth Faction, tragedy strikes at her Choosing Ceremony, where her decision thrusts her into an underground rebellion.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 19 Apr. 2026
The result puts Tony on the radar of Scotland Yard’s Inspector Hubbard (Nick Mandracchia), and immediately thrusts Tony into a defensive posture.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Other overlooks, like Cape Royal, a narrow finger that thrusts out into the central part of the canyon and boasts a 270-degree view, were as intact and stunning as ever.
—New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
McCarthy then thrusts Ohm into a pursuit of the truth, and of Fiona’s whereabouts.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
Sam eventually secures a gig babysitting his therapist’s (Hirsch) three granddaughters, which in turn thrusts him into the rarefied (if a bit closed) world of their parents, including Alessandro Nivola as their would-be rockstar dad David and Peet as their former movie star mom Dianne.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 19 Feb. 2026
Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
Verb
The move, announced Wednesday, thrusts Kemp and his Republican allies back into the center of two of the most combustible debates in Georgia politics a day after the June 16 primary runoffs cement nominees for every statewide office.
—Greg Bluestein, AJC.com, 13 May 2026
Built in 2001, the coaster boasts a 3,365-foot track with a 232-foot drop that thrusts riders to a top speed of 85 miles per hour.
—Finch Walker, USA Today, 8 May 2026
Bond investors are exacting a heavy price from three of Europe's largest economies, which are struggling with a credibility crisis as the Iran conflict thrusts government borrowing back into the spotlight.
—Hugh Leask, CNBC, 22 Apr. 2026
Whereas the original book trilogy saw Tris choose Dauntless, the faction of bravery, in The Sixth Faction, tragedy strikes at her Choosing Ceremony, where her decision thrusts her into an underground rebellion.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 19 Apr. 2026
The result puts Tony on the radar of Scotland Yard’s Inspector Hubbard (Nick Mandracchia), and immediately thrusts Tony into a defensive posture.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 27 Mar. 2026
Other overlooks, like Cape Royal, a narrow finger that thrusts out into the central part of the canyon and boasts a 270-degree view, were as intact and stunning as ever.
—New York Times, 16 Mar. 2026
McCarthy then thrusts Ohm into a pursuit of the truth, and of Fiona’s whereabouts.
—Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
Sam eventually secures a gig babysitting his therapist’s (Hirsch) three granddaughters, which in turn thrusts him into the rarefied (if a bit closed) world of their parents, including Alessandro Nivola as their would-be rockstar dad David and Peet as their former movie star mom Dianne.
—Kate Erbland, IndieWire, 19 Feb. 2026
Noun
His sister administered back thrusts and, eventually, an abdominal thrust formerly called the Heimlich maneuver.
—Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for thrusts
Verb
-
With Balanchine—whose brush with Bradley came after his precocious beginnings with the Ballets Russes but before his immigration to America and eventual founding of New York City Ballet—Footer pushes hard on not much more than the fact that the two choreographers shared dancers and proclivities.—
Brian Seibert,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
-
Besides, May pushes you to venture out of your comfort zone professionally, whether through travel, publishing or education.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Racine quickly rises, beats the bullies, and then returns to sit next to her sister.—
Jourdain Searles,
HollywoodReporter,
13 May 2026
-
As the meter rises, each ride becomes a space for connection and storytelling, where Kareem learns about the lives of the people behind the wheel and ultimately discovers a little more about himself.—
Todd Spangler,
Variety,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Our boy runs up, shoves the other player, and gets the ball.—
Joe Kinsey OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
1 May 2026
-
Near the end of the penultimate episode, Cashman confronts Blake about Urich, shoves him to the ground in a scuffle and shoots him dead.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Trump doesn’t have that much time to wait, as oil climbs toward $150 or even $200 a barrel, inflation rises, and global food and other commodity shortages kick in.—
Robert Kagan,
The Atlantic,
10 May 2026
-
The total climbs past $30,000, $50,000, sometimes $60,000, and that’s before student loans, car payments, and personal loans.—
Catherina Gioino,
Fortune,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
My mother reported her friends’ upheavals to me matter-of-factly.—
Jennifer Acker,
PEOPLE,
8 May 2026
-
In a season-long arc, Gallagher will play Rod Finlayson, a charismatic, uber-independent, capable yet unreliable figure, whose arrival at the Gibsons’ marina on his beloved boat sets up a sequence of upheavals that Alberg and Cassandra will have to grapple with.—
Nellie Andreeva,
Deadline,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
So does her husband who drives a van for people with disabilities.—
Tovia Smith,
NPR,
7 May 2026
-
As with all the company’s apparel and merchandise purchases, a portion of the proceeds supports the Guy Harvey Foundation, which funds scientific research, advances education and drives advocacy to protect marine ecosystems.—
Alexandra Harrell,
Footwear News,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Unless Buium hits quickly, Rossi ascends greater than can be reasonably expected and Elias Pettersson’s career makes a miraculous turnaround, the likely declines of eventual 30-year-olds Boeser, DeBrusk, Hronek and Marcus Pettersson are a major factor.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
As Frances ascends in the art world, Avery flails financially and emotionally — and the nationwide Adderall shortage isn’t helping.—
Jennifer Maas,
Variety,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Atvara, who spent years working in teaching, journalism, and marketing before returning to her first love, puts her classical training to good use, particularly during a goose-bump-inducing climax in which her voice swoops and soars like a haunted songbird.—
Jon O'Brien,
Vulture,
11 May 2026
-
South Korea's Kospi soars nearly 7% to fresh records as Samsung Electronics stock jumps nearly 13%.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
5 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Thrusts.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/thrusts. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
