tugging

verb

present participle of tug
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of tugging Where most garage rock is designed to punch you in the gut, Twisted Teens’ songs seep into your bloodstream, tugging at the heartstrings while occasionally inducing hallucinations. — Stuart Berman, Pitchfork, 5 Nov. 2026 The formula also features hydrating glycerin and vitamin E to help each shade glide across lids without tugging. — Madison San Miguel, Allure, 30 Oct. 2026 Rocki sat in a high chair while tugging on the long, black wig that was on her head. — Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2026 Sitting in a boat, tugging their house behind them, the journey initially appears to be going smoothly. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026 The sweet gallery opens with Rocki tugging at a large wig placed on her head as Rihanna can be heard laughing in the background. — Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 27 Sep. 2026 WashWise recommends holding the spray 8 to 12 inches away, applying a light mist and smoothing or gently tugging the fabric to release wrinkles. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Sep. 2026 In Gold Hill, Sullivan's brother-in-law solved the bear-in-Toyota problem by tugging a rope tied to a door handle. — ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026 In Gold Hill, Sullivan’s brother-in-law solved the bear-in-Toyota problem by tugging a rope tied to a door handle. — Brittany Peterson, Fortune, 8 Sep. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tugging
  1. pulling
  2. laboring
  3. hauling
  4. struggling
  5. dragging
  6. striving
  7. working
  8. trying
Verb
  • The first daily chart, going back to July, shows PJP rallying through the summer, topping in late August, and pulling back into October before advancing again.
    — Frank Cappelleri, CNBC, 6 Nov. 2026
  • With a tighter opening, the octopus added a step, pulling the remaining arms through before squeezing its head and mantle through separately.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of pulling
Verb
  • The Bruins need a big game from quarterback Ty Dieffenbach, with the Bruins laboring a bit the past two games to score wins.
    — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
  • And workers have now spent over 1 million hours laboring on an infrastructure project whose price tag has surpassed $900 million.
    — Robert Tann, Denver Post, 24 Sep. 2026
Definition of laboring
Verb
  • Pitcher said crews are still hauling large boulders and rockfall more than a week later.
    — Kelly Werthmann, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Adapting to the shock of higher prices meant that Crippen, who was hauling merchandise for online retailer Amazon, pushes the limits on the federal rules regarding driving time to increase time behind the wheel and lift earnings.
    — Kris B. Mamula, Chicago Tribune, 9 Nov. 2026
Definition of hauling
Verb
  • Maccacio urged pet owners struggling to care for their animals to seek help rather than let a pet suffer.
    — Joan Murray, CBS News, 13 Nov. 2026
  • If Trump refuses, Democrats could use it as evidence that the administration’s promises have not translated into relief for struggling families.
    — Barnini Chakraborty, The Washington Examiner, 12 Nov. 2026
Definition of struggling
Verb
  • When a 69-year-old doctor refused, security officers forcibly removed him, dragging him down the aisle bloody, concussed, and with a broken nose and missing teeth.
    — Mark Caro, Chicago Tribune, 9 Nov. 2026
  • The clip sees the singer in Hollywood and Paris, dragging a golden skeleton across the city landscapes.
    — Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 6 Nov. 2026
Definition of dragging
Verb
  • Abi is the conventional one, diligently striving in the white-collar world for mundane material comforts.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 6 Nov. 2026
  • Wong took a different path and co-founded a political party called Demosisto in 2016, advocating for self-determination and striving for a referendum on the city's political future.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026
Definition of striving
Verb
  • Dodgers looking for Miguel Rojas replacement Rojas already has begun the transition into his player development role with the Dodgers, working with prospects in the Arizona Fall League.
    — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 11 Nov. 2026
  • Asphalt contractor Albert Santing, who has 28 years of experience in the industry, said the quieter operation improved working conditions on the Groningen project.
    — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 11 Nov. 2026
Definition of working
Verb
  • The 42-year-old woman, who was driving the SUV, and the 35-year-old man riding in the vehicle were arrested after trying to flee the scene on foot, according to the sheriff's office.
    — CBS News, CBS News, 8 Nov. 2026
  • With fall in full swing in the South, outdoor critters are inevitably trying to find their way into our homes.
    — Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 8 Nov. 2026
Definition of trying

Browse Nearby Words

tugged
tugging
tug-of-war
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Cite this Entry

“Tugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tugging. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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