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
The rejection hit me hard—the story, of the daughter of a celebrity chef who moves to a small town after being adopted by her older brother, was really tugging at my heartstrings.
—
Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
Earlier this month, Chelsea Women’s head coach Sonia Bompastor took umbrage with Arsenal’s Katie McCabe tugging the locks of Alyssa Thompson during a Champions League tie.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Love & Other Drugs (2010) Edward Zwick’s Love & Other Drugs is a mixed bag, attempting to skewer the pharmaceutical world at the advent of Viagra while also being a heart-tugging romantic comedy.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Having the peace of mind that your top won’t distract you by shifting or tugging makes bodysuits a worthwhile office attire investment.
—Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
The nylon fabric is structured but not stiff, with enough stretch to handle a scramble without tugging at your knees.
—Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2026
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
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
Literary Hub, 7 May 2026
Earlier this month, Chelsea Women’s head coach Sonia Bompastor took umbrage with Arsenal’s Katie McCabe tugging the locks of Alyssa Thompson during a Champions League tie.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Love & Other Drugs (2010) Edward Zwick’s Love & Other Drugs is a mixed bag, attempting to skewer the pharmaceutical world at the advent of Viagra while also being a heart-tugging romantic comedy.
—Chris Feil, Vulture, 1 May 2026
Having the peace of mind that your top won’t distract you by shifting or tugging makes bodysuits a worthwhile office attire investment.
—Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 12 Apr. 2026
The nylon fabric is structured but not stiff, with enough stretch to handle a scramble without tugging at your knees.
—Francesca Krempa, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tugging
Verb
-
The same numbers powering that rally show capital pulling further ahead of labor.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
10 May 2026
-
The digital twin created for one of Rajasthan’s largest state utilities mapped 5 million grid assets—poles, lines, transformers, and network infrastructure—by pulling together feeder, meter, and billing data previously stored in separate silos.—
Ken Silverstein,
Forbes.com,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Imagine a place of employment where everyone in the building is laboring to live out their childhood dream.—
Omar Kelly,
Miami Herald,
10 May 2026
-
Just three had received fewer innings per game from their starters, increasing the burden on a bullpen laboring under the strain.—
Matt Kawahara,
Houston Chronicle,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
That means it's built for open roads and longer commutes, not for locking up at a bike rack or hauling up a stairwell.—
Omar Kardoudi
May 08,
New Atlas,
8 May 2026
-
The collision separated the truck's cab from the trailer, which appeared to be hauling a large pavement grinder.—
Kris Habermehl,
CBS News,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
At the time, the group had around two dozen employees and was struggling for financial stability.—
Molly Fischer,
New Yorker,
11 May 2026
-
The key will be to continue building off the encouraging start, especially after struggling with his command in Colorado last week.—
Jesús Cano,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
Verb
-
Travelers end up dragging coats through museums or try to shove them into already full suitcases before a train transfer.—
Chantelle Kincy,
Travel + Leisure,
10 May 2026
-
That’s led to a stark split between Wall Street analysts and energy experts, who have been warning that oil supplies could head off a cliff in the coming months or even weeks, dragging the global economy down in the process.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Gray’s crime thriller stars Adam Driver, Scarlett Johansson, and Miles Teller in a story about two brothers striving to achieve the American Dream only to get caught up with the Russian Mafia.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
7 May 2026
-
In the shadows of the world’s most prestigious piano competition, a group of expert tuners spend a month striving to achieve perfect pitch—hoping that the eventual champion will perform on their instrument.—
Matthew Carey,
Deadline,
6 May 2026
Verb
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Kerr had no head coaching experience, working as an executive with the Phoenix Suns from 2007 through 2010 and then as a TNT television analyst through 2014.—
Jerry McDonald,
Mercury News,
10 May 2026
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Three decades later, Landon's production company and his wife, Cindy Landon, are working together to create a Highway to Heaven revival for Fox for the 2027-2028 season, per Deadline.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
10 May 2026
Verb
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Sullivan, though, first pushed back on the idea the Dolphins were trying to trade him at the NFL meetings later that month, calling him a priority to get extended.—
David Furones,
Sun Sentinel,
14 May 2026
-
In that sense, perhaps collecting people who care deeply about the same places is a more promising digital model than trying to appeal to everyone everywhere.—
Kyle Chayka,
New Yorker,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tugging. Accessed 14 May. 2026.
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