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
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Recent Examples of tug
David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
All this complicates a tug toward pure nostalgia.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 11 May 2026
Jared Weiss, New York Times, 11 May 2026
The gel formula swipes onto the lids without any skipping or tugging, giving you ample time to smudge, sculpt, or sharpen the line before the brand’s patented PermaLock Technology sets it into a waterproof, transfer-proof, and smudge-proof finish.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tug
Noun
The parents of the three girls who died filed a negligence lawsuit in December against Waterfront Construction, the Miami company that owns the tug and barge.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
All this complicates a tug toward pure nostalgia.
—Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 11 May 2026
Verb
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
The gel formula swipes onto the lids without any skipping or tugging, giving you ample time to smudge, sculpt, or sharpen the line before the brand’s patented PermaLock Technology sets it into a waterproof, transfer-proof, and smudge-proof finish.
—Jailynn Taylor, Allure, 10 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for tug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tug
Noun
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By measuring sweat gland activity, the broadcaster hopes to demonstrate the unique pull of high-octane sports and optimize its presentation for maximum engagement in a world of distraction.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
22 May 2026
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That partly stems from the way McCormack projects the gravitational pull of a man grappling with forces and feelings far beyond his control, which prevent him from seeking help when everything starts to go south.—
Leslie Felperin,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
Verb
-
Beshey hauled him to the front yard, having to set him down once because of his bulk.—
Alina Hartounian,
NPR,
18 May 2026
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The film eliminated even a gesture toward a plot while showing solitary nonprofessional and real-life ranch-hand Misael Saavedra chopping and hauling logs in the Argentinian hinterlands (in actuality, Alonso’s family’s ranch).—
Vadim Rizov,
IndieWire,
16 May 2026
Verb
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The two finished atop a crowded field that also featured Attorney General Chris Carr and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, who both struggled to break through in a GOP contest overshadowed by the feud between the two front-runners.—
Greg Bluestein,
AJC.com,
20 May 2026
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Mergers might encourage other states to offer similar programs as a way of funnelling more students into struggling four-year campuses.—
Jay Caspian Kang,
New Yorker,
19 May 2026
Noun
-
No snagging Lower-quality beard combs often have the intolerable tendency to pull, yank or just rip out clumps of facial hair.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
29 Apr. 2026
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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,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Analysts have repeatedly warned that if the war drags on and supply chains are disrupted for long enough, prices for gas and a range of other goods could continue to climb.—
Wyatte Grantham-Philips,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
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Billy, who speaks in a honeyed southern accent, dresses in Old Hollywood drag, and lives alone in the defunct summer camp where Camp Miasma was shot, isn’t just an envoy from another generation but a representative of a more visceral relationship with art.—
Alison Willmore,
Vulture,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Kreider, who dealt with injuries last season with the New York Rangers, has labored.—
Eric Stephens,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
-
When Cale Makar was clearly laboring in the final couple of games of this series, Kulak and Brent Burns were outstanding.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
14 May 2026
Noun
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Search the internet and there are coaches and players spotted sniffing the ammonia inhalants before a game, with their instant reactions — a noticeable head jerk or contorted face — going viral.—
Jason Jones,
New York Times,
15 May 2026
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Hethington didn’t want to cannibalize his menu with the dish, instead compromising with a jerk lamb shank, and a whole Chinese Trini chicken, an homage to the popular takeout food in Trinidad.—
Jenn Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
14 May 2026
Verb
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Anyone who’s seen enough adaptations knows the difference between one that strives to apprehend the source material and one that feels derived from a Wikipedia summary.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 May 2026
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Markowicz directs from her original script, which blends drama and dark satire to broach issues of privilege, complex family relationships, inheritance, and how the elite strive to maintain polished appearances in a fast-paced, ever-changing world.—
Rafa Sales Ross,
Variety,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tug. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
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