as in pull
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force
gave the man in front a tug on his shirtsleeve as a sign that he was supposed to step aside
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in to struggle
to devote serious and sustained effort
she's tugged all her life to get to where she is now in the business world
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of tug
Ed Garsten, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
The title tugs on the irony of Mulvaney’s three-dimensional story while playing with the two-dimensional notion of what a paper doll is.
—Denny, Them., 30 Apr. 2025
Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Google, for example, attempted to tug at parents’ heartstrings with the now-infamous Dear Sydney ad aired during the 2024 Summer Olympics.
—ArsTechnica, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tug
Noun
The electric tug boat conversion now underway is designed to offer both the cost and performance advantage electric propulsion provides.
—Ed Garsten, Forbes.com, 17 Apr. 2025
The title tugs on the irony of Mulvaney’s three-dimensional story while playing with the two-dimensional notion of what a paper doll is.
—Denny, Them., 30 Apr. 2025
Verb
Subtle irregularities in how the brown dwarfs moved hinted that something unseen was tugging on them—something in an unusual orbit.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Google, for example, attempted to tug at parents’ heartstrings with the now-infamous Dear Sydney ad aired during the 2024 Summer Olympics.
—ArsTechnica, 16 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tug
Noun
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As model efficiency improves, the gravitational pull of hyperscale clusters weakens.—
Emil Sayegh,
Forbes.com,
12 May 2025
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Such is the pull of this unassuming Midwestern city, where students, faculty, staffers and alumni migrate back and forth from the handsome University of Michigan campus to the nearby restaurants, shops and bars of Ann Arbor’s bustling downtown.—
Brandon Griggs,
CNN Money,
10 May 2025
Verb
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They are not designed to haul lumber or other types of recreational equipment and may not be secure enough.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2025
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Equally impressive were the things people couldn’t see, like the large basement spaces where animal acts would await their turn—complete with an elevator stout enough to haul elephants.—
Randy Mason,
Kansas City Star,
14 May 2025
Verb
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Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki has struggled with his command in his stateside debut.—
Peter Chawaga,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 May 2025
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The two struggled, and a few seconds later the deputy threw Houseton on the ground.—
Keri Blakinger,
Los Angeles Times,
11 May 2025
Noun
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Four yanks later, voila: Clayton had pulled free his prize, leaving just a single strand of nylon stuck in the Alamodome rim.—
Brendan Marks,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
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Each blade has a pull tab at the top of its cartridge; just give it a gentle yank to remove it.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
20 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Andre needs some help The Brazil international midfielder dragged himself from the field near the end on Saturday, with Pereira later allaying any fears about an injury.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
12 May 2025
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Gunther dragged Cole into the ring and pushed him around and out of the ring.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
11 May 2025
Verb
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Car loans have grown steadily longer in recent years, as buyers labor to keep pace with rising prices.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2025
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Holmes labored through four innings and the Dodgers welcomed Braves reliever Enyel De Los Santos with three hits and another run in the fifth, Will Smith driving it in with a two-out single.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
1 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Trump calls Bruce Springsteen a 'jerk': The president slapped back after the musician voiced criticism at concertNeed a break?—
Chris Jordan,
USA Today,
19 May 2025
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Millions of readers follow along for her advice on work quandaries big and small, from dealing with office jerks to quitting a toxic job.—
Jennifer Liu,
CNBC,
11 May 2025
Verb
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Cupich described the pope as an organized and meticulous worker who is humble and strives to take in a variety of different perspectives.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
9 May 2025
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Martinez also serves as a mentor for both the Reel Champs’ Executive Diversity Mentorship Program, as well as the Group Effort Initiative Mentorship Program, which strives to create a pipeline for members of underrepresented communities to establish long-term careers within entertainment.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tug. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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