1
as in pulling
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 laboring
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 tugging
Nanny Aimee -- our second in command -- was moving through the far corners of the house, waking up each of the littles, kissing sleepy eyelids, tugging my two toddlers gently forward into the day.
—
Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Generally, both experts recommend being extra careful with blinds (following manufacturer directions, for example, and not tugging or pulling when dusting).
—Lori Keong, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026
To play for Hurley is to understand that taking a play off is not acceptable, that bending over and tugging at your short hems – a sure sign, in Hurley’s estimation, of weakness – will earn you either a death stare or a run up the steps.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
The silky, twist-up pencil glides on without tugging and sets to a budge-proof, waterproof finish that holds up against humidity, sweat, and long days.
—Sarah Felbin, Allure, 30 Mar. 2026
The movie was a major success, tugging at the heartstrings of pet owners everywhere.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
By July or August, if all goes well, the spacecraft will begin the monthslong process of tugging Swift up, aiming for an altitude of about 550 kilometers.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
The officer grabbed Lugo, with Barkley tugging at Lugo’s arm.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
Playing the title role of a linguistics professor who faces changes and prepares her family for what's to come as the disease takes hold, Moore navigates the character arc with honesty and heart-tugging empathy.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 7 Apr. 2026
Generally, both experts recommend being extra careful with blinds (following manufacturer directions, for example, and not tugging or pulling when dusting).
—Lori Keong, Architectural Digest, 2 Apr. 2026
To play for Hurley is to understand that taking a play off is not acceptable, that bending over and tugging at your short hems – a sure sign, in Hurley’s estimation, of weakness – will earn you either a death stare or a run up the steps.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 30 Mar. 2026
The silky, twist-up pencil glides on without tugging and sets to a budge-proof, waterproof finish that holds up against humidity, sweat, and long days.
—Sarah Felbin, Allure, 30 Mar. 2026
The movie was a major success, tugging at the heartstrings of pet owners everywhere.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
By July or August, if all goes well, the spacecraft will begin the monthslong process of tugging Swift up, aiming for an altitude of about 550 kilometers.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 26 Mar. 2026
The officer grabbed Lugo, with Barkley tugging at Lugo’s arm.
—Orlando Sentinel Staff, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 Mar. 2026
Playing the title role of a linguistics professor who faces changes and prepares her family for what's to come as the disease takes hold, Moore navigates the character arc with honesty and heart-tugging empathy.
—Brian Truitt, USA Today, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tugging
Verb
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Rodriguez was seen on camera sitting behind the boy and pulling his arms behind his back causing his shoulders to flare out, police say.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
18 Apr. 2026
-
Last week, the archdiocese accused CPS of abruptly pulling the funding from only Catholic schools before the school year ended, even questioning if the district had mismanaged money and if the district was targeting their religious schools.—
Sara Tenenbaum,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Trump poses as a pro-worker force, but his policies are atrocious for the laboring class.—
Business Columnist,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Put differently, eliminating tax on overtime reduces the number of hours each day that hourly workers are laboring not for themselves or their families but for the government.—
Stephen Moore,
Boston Herald,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Villagers’ days are spent hauling water for themselves and their livestock.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
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But instead of hauling a trailer, the cargo is one gigantic watermelon, with an adorable tail on the end.—
Nina Metz,
Chicago Tribune,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
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That leaves firms which relied on cheap, abundant credit during the low-rate era of 2010s and early 2020s more exposed, with weaker companies struggling to roll over debt or exit investments.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
20 Apr. 2026
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Despite Magic guard Desmond Bane, clearly under the weather, struggling from beyond the arc but still managing to contribute 17 points.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In a four-game span, the Philadelphia 76ers star received a technical foul for shoving Donte DiVincenzo, and flagrant fouls for dragging Mitchell Robinson to the floor and swiping Brunson in the head.—
Peter Sblendorio,
New York Daily News,
21 Apr. 2026
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Throughout Orbán’s re-election campaign, the media controlled by his governing Fidesz party depicted Magyar as a reckless enemy of peace, bent on dragging Hungary into the war in neighboring Ukraine.—
Christian Edwards,
CNN Money,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Everything is going to plan when, just hours after launch, a series of unexplained events engulf Sutherland in mystery and risks destroying everything Mirren’s been striving for.—
Max Goldbart,
Deadline,
16 Apr. 2026
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Linda is a ball of nervous energy, a blue-collar divorcée, and a woman striving to turn her dysfunctional children into a model family for their New Jersey town.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2026
Verb
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King has been working ever since then to bring a Michael Jackson film to theatres, and now only technicalities remained.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
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During her college years, Sophie spent her summers working and gaining experience in television and journalism.—
Katie Mannion,
PEOPLE,
19 Apr. 2026
Verb
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What Brody and others are trying to dismantle is already part of a daunting corporate and technological superstructure.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
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As one of many nations on the continent reliant on energy imports, Kenya is trying to avoid fuel shortages.—
Preeti Jha,
semafor.com,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tugging. Accessed 23 Apr. 2026.
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