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 wrought
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
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Recent Examples of tugged
Nolan Norris went down after he was tugged on the shoulder by Ali Maamar, and although the North African side requested a review and the challenge looked soft, the referee stuck with his verdict, and Campbell squeezed the spot-kick into the corner past the outstretched arm of Yanis Benchaouch.
—
The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
If a toy was tugged, it was considered a Pull type, and if it was retrieved when thrown, it was considered a Fetch type.
—New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2025
This one may have tugged at your deepest insecurities around intimacy, trust, and vulnerability, pushing you to face the places where pride has sometimes acted as a shield.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 7 Sep. 2025
But almost as soon as that hopefulness returned, it was tugged away when ownership decided to slash payroll.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 12 Aug. 2025
There was a sentimental clip that tugged on the audience’s heartstrings showing Cantrall as a very young Disney performer.
—Scott King, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
In 1984, a memory tugged at him.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025
Timothy and Maud held tight to his jacket and tugged.
—Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 12 Oct. 2025
If a toy was tugged, it was considered a Pull type, and if it was retrieved when thrown, it was considered a Fetch type.
—New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2025
This one may have tugged at your deepest insecurities around intimacy, trust, and vulnerability, pushing you to face the places where pride has sometimes acted as a shield.
—Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 7 Sep. 2025
But almost as soon as that hopefulness returned, it was tugged away when ownership decided to slash payroll.
—Betsy Helfand, Twin Cities, 12 Aug. 2025
There was a sentimental clip that tugged on the audience’s heartstrings showing Cantrall as a very young Disney performer.
—Scott King, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2025
In 1984, a memory tugged at him.
—Andrea Riquier, USA Today, 8 Aug. 2025
Timothy and Maud held tight to his jacket and tugged.
—Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tugged
Verb
-
The defendants have pulled every procedural lever to avoid being held responsible for their egregious actions.—
Nicole Acosta,
PEOPLE,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Alas, Israel has not pulled the trigger there, either, likely due in part to geopolitical instability — the MDSC would require construction in the West Bank.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
17 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Now, any cars driven recklessly may be hauled to the tow lot.—
Hope Karnopp,
jsonline.com,
15 Oct. 2025
-
The ensign, who had neglected to check the tides before entering the harbor, immediately reported his failure to his superiors, who fired him and hauled him before a court-martial.—
Davis Winkie,
USA Today,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
President Joe Biden struggled to stop wars in Europe and the Middle East.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
11 Oct. 2025
-
The Bobcats had struggled to contain the Wildcats’ speed for the majority of the game.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Bank credit concerns also dragged on the European markets today.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
17 Oct. 2025
-
There came a moment—probably before the husband dragged the child, gnawing on his gloved hand, through attic insulation—when things shifted like a plank laying across a fulcrum, weight placed on one end.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
At 41 weeks, she was induced and labored for hours before doctors determined an emergency C-section was necessary.—
Jordan Greene,
PEOPLE,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Already labored by national debt levels around double the European target, in September the French economy was downgraded by credit ratings agency Fitch.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN Money,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Neither of us had ever worked on a posthumous collection before.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Oct. 2025
-
Marshak, who went on to become a talent agent, worked with DiCaprio early in each of their careers.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tugged.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tugged. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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