1
as in pulled
to cause to follow by applying steady force on
tugged on the door until it opened
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in struggled
to devote serious and sustained effort
she's tugged all her life to get to where she is now in the business world
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of tugged
These shifts allowed researchers to calculate how Titan’s gravity tugged on the spacecraft, revealing how flexible—or malleable—the moon is.
—
New Atlas, 18 Dec. 2025
In fact, one of my most vivid memories was sitting between my mother’s legs getting my hair brushed, tugged, and pulled into a low, sleek bun for my track meets.
—Essence, 18 Dec. 2025
Another getaway that tugged at her heart was her first trip to Chilean Patagonia last year.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 30 Nov. 2025
Engulfed by waves of sorrow, her chin vibrates, her eyes scrunch into slits, the corners of her mouth turn down as though tugged by invisible weights.
—Judy Berman, Time, 28 Nov. 2025
Working on that song in particular tugged on Vetro's heartstrings throughout their rehearsal process.
—Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
The tragic devastation of a once-proud way of life is something that has long tugged at Hedren.
—Patrick Springer, Twin Cities, 26 Nov. 2025
The moment tugged at Susnick’s heart, and made her laugh.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
An invitation from Wolfpack quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper to sit in on film sessions and game-planning meetings tugged McCall out of a potentially debilitating spiral.
—Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
New Atlas, 18 Dec. 2025
In fact, one of my most vivid memories was sitting between my mother’s legs getting my hair brushed, tugged, and pulled into a low, sleek bun for my track meets.
—Essence, 18 Dec. 2025
Another getaway that tugged at her heart was her first trip to Chilean Patagonia last year.
—Rachel Chang, Travel + Leisure, 30 Nov. 2025
Engulfed by waves of sorrow, her chin vibrates, her eyes scrunch into slits, the corners of her mouth turn down as though tugged by invisible weights.
—Judy Berman, Time, 28 Nov. 2025
Working on that song in particular tugged on Vetro's heartstrings throughout their rehearsal process.
—Jack Irvin, PEOPLE, 27 Nov. 2025
The tragic devastation of a once-proud way of life is something that has long tugged at Hedren.
—Patrick Springer, Twin Cities, 26 Nov. 2025
The moment tugged at Susnick’s heart, and made her laugh.
—Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
An invitation from Wolfpack quarterbacks coach Kurt Roper to sit in on film sessions and game-planning meetings tugged McCall out of a potentially debilitating spiral.
—Brian Hamilton, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tugged
Verb
-
Chicago pulled within 21-16 on D'Andre Swift's 5-yard run early in the fourth quarter.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The slightly oversized cut offers comfort for long travel days, while looking pulled-together.—
Gabrielle Porcaro,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Footage of the crash showed a towering wave of smoke and flames billowing skyward near the airport after the low-flying plane struggled to climb and then erupted into an enormous fireball on impact.—
Ray Sanchez,
CNN Money,
8 Nov. 2025
-
Memphis struggled out of the gate on Friday night against a motivated Tulane Green Wave team that suffered an upset loss to UTSA in Week 10.—
Jordan Sigler,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Deborah famously hauled bags of cement up the mountain with a baby strapped to her chest to construct the hydroelectric system that still powers 80% of the resort today.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 Jan. 2026
-
Its story reminded me of Carlos Fitzcarrald, the rubber baron who had a boat hauled over a mountain, from one river to another, in the 1890s.—
Stanley Stewart,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The team labored in home losses to Houston and the Los Angeles Chargers, with Mahomes ultimately suffering a season-ending ACL injury in the fourth quarter of that setback against the Chargers.—
Jesse Newell,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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The administration has labored to frame the use of the military in Venezuela as a law enforcement action, since Maduro had outstanding warrants for his arrest in the United States.—
Garrett Downs,
CNBC,
6 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Sure enough, Hill took a short swing pass, collided with a would-be Georgetown tackler around the 10-yard line, and dragged three Eagles forward before falling on the pylon for a touchdown.—
Rick Cantu,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Jan. 2026
-
In the June incident, Ross broke the window of a car when the driver refused to exit the vehicle and then found himself being dragged at least 50 yards when the driver hit the gas.—
Corky Siemaszko,
NBC news,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Dumas has worked for Valero for four years but just moved to the Benicia location from Arizona a year ago, just a few months before the energy company announced a possible plan to cease or idle operations.—
Amanda Hari,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Steve Sarkisian worked for Saban twice at Alabama.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
During his short time in office, Garfield endeavored to clean up the government.—
Allison DeGrushe,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Nov. 2025
-
Padilla endeavored to make his mark early.—
Vann R. Newkirk II,
The Atlantic,
16 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tugged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tugged. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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