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
Relevance
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
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 tug
Franco Panizo, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2025
The tug-and-pull over GOP members’ demands for more documents and testimony comes as lawmakers juggle the appropriations process and face an end-of-month deadline to fund the government.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 3 Sep. 2025
Hadley Meares, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
This time, the dogs only experienced each toy’s function (either tugging or fetching) during play; they were not taught words for any of them.
—Anirban Mukhopadhyay, Scientific American, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tug
Noun
Getting a start as part of the centerback carousel approach that has been adopted for much of the year, Aviles was sent off with a second yellow card for a jersey tug at midfield while competing for an aerial ball played over the top.
—Franco Panizo, Miami Herald, 14 Sep. 2025
The tug-and-pull over GOP members’ demands for more documents and testimony comes as lawmakers juggle the appropriations process and face an end-of-month deadline to fund the government.
—Elizabeth Crisp, The Hill, 3 Sep. 2025
Verb
The most heart-tugging acceptance speech was given by the witty and whip-smart Juliette Hohnen (Douglas Elliman) who won the award for Celebrity Property Portfolio.
—Hadley Meares, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2025
This time, the dogs only experienced each toy’s function (either tugging or fetching) during play; they were not taught words for any of them.
—Anirban Mukhopadhyay, Scientific American, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for tug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tug
Noun
-
Spain, moreover, has not suffered so much the pull back of streaming services seen in many parts of the world.—
John Hopewell,
Variety,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Shop pull-on jeans made from a comfortable cotton and denim blend with a drawstring waist, or consider a pair of easy-to-wear clogs that customers said are good quality and great for fall weather.—
Jacqueline Tempera,
PEOPLE,
22 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
While Alex is reeling from his discovery, Dwayne attacks him and hauls him away.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Historians said the materials used to build it, except for the stones, were hauled down to the canyon bottom by mule.—
Michael Salerno,
AZCentral.com,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In addition to market volatility, Generation X is struggling with inflation.—
Daniel de Visé,
USA Today,
27 Sep. 2025
-
Hudson’s daughter, Ricky (Perry Mattfield), who works as an assistant coach, is a former track star who lost her confidence after an injury and now struggles to get the other Catfish coaches (including her dad) to take her seriously.—
Kristen Baldwin,
Entertainment Weekly,
26 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Effectively, this turned the workspace into a yank buffer along with all your documents, and undoing any destructive editing operation thus became merely another cut and paste.—
Cameron Kaiser,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Visitors to China will want to lighten their grip, while folks introducing themselves to Germans should know to stop after one firm downward yank.—
Chris Ciolli,
AFAR Media,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
Wandering among the half naked nymphs and leering wolves and buff mermen poking their lovely wet heads out of glassy forest pools, their eyes dark with wanting to drag her down to oblivion.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Sep. 2025
-
The robber barons and telecom wildcatters borrowed to build their empires, and dragged their financiers down with them when the music stopped.—
Liz Hoffman,
semafor.com,
23 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
These women, many of whom worked in relative obscurity for all their lives, labored to redefine the rights and dignity of all people.—
Time,
Time,
22 Sep. 2025
-
Hammond labored 50 hours over a two week span to create her project.—
R. Daniel Foster,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Lunch is packed with all sorts of sandwiches (BLT, french dip, Reuben) and hamburgers (patty melt, Jamaican jerk, jalapeno burger) to salads, tacos and more.—
Michael Deeds,
Idaho Statesman,
18 Sep. 2025
-
Check out its jerk chicken roll filled with carrots, cabbage, onions, cheese and jerk mayo; or try the jerk chicken wings and sides of rice and peas, plantains and cabbage.—
Loán Lake,
Charlotte Observer,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
When Volume One of the forecast was released for 2024, the paint brand strived to frame its collection as objectively as possible.—
Tim Nelson,
Architectural Digest,
24 Sep. 2025
-
The true story of Spain’s cricket team striving to qualify for the Olympics, uniting diverse communities through a sport largely unknown in Spain.—
Anna Marie de la Fuente,
Variety,
24 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tug. Accessed 29 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share