as in pulls
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in struggles
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.
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Recent Examples of tugs
Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
And gear that hugs and tugs in all the wrong places doesn’t whisper.
—Marisa McMillan, Outside, 27 Feb. 2026
Erikson, who was influenced by Freud, conceptualized eight life stages as tugs of war between opposing forces.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026
Despite Suárez’s tugs at Messi’s arm, though, Messi disappears through the door.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026
As part of its support service to the Royal Navy, Serco intends to purchase 24 vessels, including a mix of ASD tugs, reverse-stern-drive tugs, pilot boats, barges, and crane barges, for which the contract was awarded to Dutch defence manufacturer Damen.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 13 Jan. 2026
These motorcycles were so well-built that they were even employed in both World Wars, mainly as dispatch bikes and sidecar tugs for the British armed forces.
—New Atlas, 6 Dec. 2025
The first, known as the radial velocity technique, looks for slight wobbles in the star’s position, as the gravity of an orbiting exoplanet tugs it one way and then the other.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 1 Dec. 2025
Video showed Turkish tugs tackling an extensive fire on board the ship about 30 miles off the Turkish coast.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 29 Nov. 2025
David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
Isabelle slides off Sarah’s lap, flings the towel, pulls on her swimming mask, grabs her mom’s hand and tugs her toward the pool.
—Gerald Witt, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Riley tugs the false eyelashes off.
—Alex Ross, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
This book tugs at all the heartstrings.
—Charlotte Observer, 15 Dec. 2025
The idea of moving to America constantly tugs at rising singer-songwriter Larissa Lambert.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2025
Campaign Evolved is a safe bet in an increasingly unstable market that tugs on the heartstrings of veteran fans while pulling in a whole new community of potential PlayStation players conveniently in time for its big anniversary.
—Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
On Earth, the result is the changing ocean tides as our moon tugs at the water.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Graff tugs the reader from the earliest experiments in radiation to the young pilots who made an ashy hole of Nagasaki.
—Book Marks
september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
If a public request tugs at private feelings, pause to check your boundaries, then accept only what supports family rhythms and true priorities.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
And gear that hugs and tugs in all the wrong places doesn’t whisper.
—Marisa McMillan, Outside, 27 Feb. 2026
Erikson, who was influenced by Freud, conceptualized eight life stages as tugs of war between opposing forces.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026
Despite Suárez’s tugs at Messi’s arm, though, Messi disappears through the door.
—Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026
As part of its support service to the Royal Navy, Serco intends to purchase 24 vessels, including a mix of ASD tugs, reverse-stern-drive tugs, pilot boats, barges, and crane barges, for which the contract was awarded to Dutch defence manufacturer Damen.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 13 Jan. 2026
These motorcycles were so well-built that they were even employed in both World Wars, mainly as dispatch bikes and sidecar tugs for the British armed forces.
—New Atlas, 6 Dec. 2025
The first, known as the radial velocity technique, looks for slight wobbles in the star’s position, as the gravity of an orbiting exoplanet tugs it one way and then the other.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 1 Dec. 2025
Video showed Turkish tugs tackling an extensive fire on board the ship about 30 miles off the Turkish coast.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 29 Nov. 2025
Verb
The pacing slackens a little as the complicated process inches forward, but the ending tugs the heartstrings in enormously satisfying ways.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
Isabelle slides off Sarah’s lap, flings the towel, pulls on her swimming mask, grabs her mom’s hand and tugs her toward the pool.
—Gerald Witt, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Riley tugs the false eyelashes off.
—Alex Ross, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
This book tugs at all the heartstrings.
—Charlotte Observer, 15 Dec. 2025
The idea of moving to America constantly tugs at rising singer-songwriter Larissa Lambert.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2025
Campaign Evolved is a safe bet in an increasingly unstable market that tugs on the heartstrings of veteran fans while pulling in a whole new community of potential PlayStation players conveniently in time for its big anniversary.
—Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
On Earth, the result is the changing ocean tides as our moon tugs at the water.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Graff tugs the reader from the earliest experiments in radiation to the young pilots who made an ashy hole of Nagasaki.
—Book Marks
september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tugs
Noun
-
Emotional rug-pulls arrive in the form of happy surprises that stretch the third act too long and test the limits of our disbelief.—
Katie Walsh,
Boston Herald,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Sheer and lace curtains should be hand-washed in cool water or placed in a mesh laundry bag in a washing machine to prevent snags and pulls.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
The Spruce,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This photo shows off the staggering scale of SLS, the VAB, and the crawler-transporter vehicle that hauls the rocket to and from the launch pad.—
Brett Tingley,
Space.com,
27 Feb. 2026
-
After the gating email, Otto hauls Harper in for a talking-to.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
However, the study shows that VQE frequently struggles to handle them accurately.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Mar. 2026
-
If John does agree to explore his options in politics, things will get worse for Carolyn, who struggles to keep a brave face in light of the scrutiny that is hitting her from all sides.—
Rafaela Bassili,
Vulture,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But if the situation drags on, higher energy prices could start to weigh more heavily on the global economy, hurting consumers, slowing growth, and keeping markets under pressure.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
18 Mar. 2026
-
Travel expert Clint Henderson of The Points Guy website told Fox News Digital that as the shutdown drags on, flight passengers can expect the situation to only get worse.—
Ashley J. DiMella,
FOXNews.com,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Their concierge service strives to provide anything guests may require, from a wellness network of massage therapists to a partnership with a local gym.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
19 Mar. 2026
-
Heidi is unlike Lauren, who strives for Teen Vogue internships in Paris and New York, and even less like Lauren’s intern rival, Emily Weiss, who would go on to found the billion-dollar beauty brand Glossier and become an emblem of girlboss feminism.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
18 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Smarmy jerks can get obscenely wealthy in this country just by managing other people’s money.—
Gilad Edelman,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Moreover, where most clients are great, some are jerks.—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves that.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The groove between these serves as an at-the-ready bottle opener, and within the frame are hex wrenches for 2-mm and 5-mm bolts.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Eight days after panels were removed by National Park Service staff using crowbars and wrenches, dozens of people packed a federal courtroom to hear arguments from the city of Philadelphia and the federal government.—
Liz Crawford,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tugs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tugs. Accessed 21 Mar. 2026.
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