Synonyms of tugged

tugged

verb

past tense of tug

1

as in pulled

to cause to follow by applying steady force on

tugged on the door until it opened

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pulled
• hauled
• dragged
• towed
• drew
• carried
• yanked
• heaved
• haled
• jerked
• lugged
• attracted
• moved
• transported
• conveyed
• ferried

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pushed
• drove
• propelled
• thrust
• shoved

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• struggled
• labored
• worked
• endeavored
• tried
• hustled
• plowed
• dug (away)
• toiled
• humped
• strove
• plugged
• strained
• plodded
• grubbed
• sweat
• slaved
• drudged
• fagged
• slogged
• pegged (away)
• travailed
• banged away
• attacked
• moiled
• scratched
• drove
• dug in
• sweat blood
• exerted
• applied (oneself)
• essayed
• waded
• buckled (down)
• beavered (away)
• hammered (away)
• trudged
• pitched in
• exercised
• scrabbled
• eked out
• overworked
• knuckled down
• overexerted
• put out
• ground (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• broke
• slackened
• eased (up)
• let up
• chilled
• shirked
• idled
• lounged
• hung (around or out)
• rested
• dallied
• bummed
• unwound
• relaxed
• lazed
• loafed
• hung
• hacked (around)
• slacked (off)
• lolled
• goofed (off)
• played
• basked
• reposed
• dabbled
• goldbricked
• dillydallied
• trifled
• doodled
• footled
• vegged out
• fooled around
• messed around
• hung about
• puttered (around)
• goofed (around)
• pottered (around)
• monkeyed (around)
• fribbled

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tugged

Either way, the spread of kudzu, Burmese pythons, Joro spiders, mosquitoes, killer bees, and Asiatic false hawk’s-beards, to name just a few, has tugged on some primal taproot in us. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Meanwhile, other storylines were timely and tugged at heartstrings, such as when her character officiated the first gay male wedding on daytime TV in a 2014 episode following Marlena’s emotional coming-out scenes with her grandson. — Jeff Nelson, PEOPLE, 29 July 2026

The border shifted and changed hands here at least four times in the 19th century and a fifth time in the 20th, tugged south by war and treaty, peace talks and purchases. — Lauren Villagran, USA Today, 28 June 2026

In bringing a piece of her mother to the event, Obama tugged at a feeling that many will relate to – wishing a late family member could be with you during life’s milestone moments. — Fiona Sinclair Scott, CNN Money, 17 June 2026

His young daughter tugged at him. — Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026

One weekend last November it was tugged around the harbor wrapped in a pink Nike ad. — Lincoln Anderson, New York Daily News, 12 June 2026

The rookie tryout cornerback repeatedly tugged on undrafted rookie wide receiver Omari Kelly’s jersey as Kelly ran a go route up the left sideline. — Chicago Tribune, 11 May 2026

When Wembanyama then grabbed the ensuing rebound right over Reid, Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels came in and tugged down on Wembanyama’s jersey from behind, then held onto his off arm. — Jared Weiss, New York Times, 11 May 2026