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
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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
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Recent Examples of tugs
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
Exploring the joys and heartbreak of raising children from a mother’s perspective tugs at the heart.
—Jackie Charniga, USA Today, 29 Nov. 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
So Hadsel tied a string to Splashand trained him to respond to a specific number of tugs.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 11 Nov. 2025
Less obvious is how the Earth itself tugs at the solid rocky surface of the moon.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Throughout his time at the Palace, several women have reported feeling tugs on their hair or having the sensation that someone is lingering right over their shoulder.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Oct. 2025
Firefly makes rockets, space tugs and lunar landers.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
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
It’s been over 50 years since viewers first set foot in Walnut Grove, but NBC’s Little House on the Prairie still tugs at our heartstrings today.
—Kelly Martinez, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Noun
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
Exploring the joys and heartbreak of raising children from a mother’s perspective tugs at the heart.
—Jackie Charniga, USA Today, 29 Nov. 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
So Hadsel tied a string to Splashand trained him to respond to a specific number of tugs.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 11 Nov. 2025
Less obvious is how the Earth itself tugs at the solid rocky surface of the moon.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Throughout his time at the Palace, several women have reported feeling tugs on their hair or having the sensation that someone is lingering right over their shoulder.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Oct. 2025
Firefly makes rockets, space tugs and lunar landers.
—Samantha Subin, CNBC, 30 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
It’s been over 50 years since viewers first set foot in Walnut Grove, but NBC’s Little House on the Prairie still tugs at our heartstrings today.
—Kelly Martinez, EW.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tugs
Noun
-
The days when there were only a few options for kitchen cabinet knobs and pulls are long gone.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Adventure Intel One of the big pulls of Reset Hotel is its proximity to the north entrance of Joshua Tree National Park, which is generally less crowded than its southern counterpart.—
Kristine Thomason,
Outside,
11 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Global warming could doom them Under no light but the stars, a green sea turtle hauls herself out of the surf and onto the familiar sand of Alagadi Beach on the northern coast of Cyprus.—
Elizabeth Preston,
Scientific American,
16 Dec. 2025
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The Maverick, which is available in five trims, costs less than $29,000 for the XL model, hauls 1,500 lbs and tows up to 4,000 lbs.—
Morgan Korn,
ABC News,
28 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Unable to pay her rent, she was later evicted and now struggles to come up with the $1,900 for her new place.—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
13 Jan. 2026
-
Harper, for her part, struggles to publicly defend a market position that’s based on a hunch and backed up by espionage.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Steer clear of clothing that drags on the floor.—
Stacey Leasca,
Travel + Leisure,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The defensive coordinator search drags on.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Through educational programs, community outreach and strategic resource management, the district strives to ensure sustainable groundwater supply for current and future generations.—
Claire Marks,
Austin American Statesman,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Zermatt strives to be a high-class mountain resort, but for active guests.—
Rick Steves,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Instead, the Engel-Jackson family is more run-of-the-mill awful — a recognizable pack of self-serving jerks more focused on the appearance of cheer than any real kindness.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
12 Dec. 2025
-
That rich people sure can be easily manipulable jerks?—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Adjustable wrenches can round off the bolt head, making removal more difficult, Mansfield says.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
15 Jan. 2026
-
At a minimum, keep a multi-tool, a few wrenches, and a pair of pliers in it.—
Rabekah Henderson,
Southern Living,
2 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
These Hokas are the rare travel shoe that works across all ages, activity levels, and destinations.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
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The company works closely with mental health professionals to ensure its technology aligns with clinical practice rather than replacing it.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tugs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tugs. Accessed 19 Jan. 2026.
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