TUGS Synonyms: 112 Similar and Opposite Words

tugs 1 of 2

noun

plural of tug

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

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tugs

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of tug

as in hauls

to cause to follow by applying steady force on tugged on the door until it opened

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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

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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 tugs

Noun

Electric tugs docked alongside an LNG carrier being loaded at the LNG Canada docks in Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada, on Monday, July 14, 2025. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026 Pisces February 19 – March 20 When home tugs, work needs kinder structure. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 16 Sep. 2026 Firefly Aerospace started as a launch company and now builds Moon landers and space tugs. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026 The European Investment Bank (EIB) estimates that roughly 200 wrecks, including warships, barges, tugs, and cargo vessels, remain scattered across a five-kilometer stretch of the river near Prahovo. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026 Here, fat-tire bicycles seem to outnumber cars, hours are measured in sunscreen applications and tugs on fishing lines, and island nightlife belongs to nesting sea turtles. — Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 7 July 2026 Those ⁠vessels are smaller commercial ships, including five smaller oil tankers, coastal ships and tugs, according to analysis of the vessels waiting. — Reuters, NBC news, 24 June 2026 Your 8th House of Intimacy and Resources tugs on play as the intuitive Moon squares messenger Mercury in your 5th House of Creativity. — Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 23 June 2026 Max tugs at my shirt for a water bottle. — Joseph Trinidad, Longreads, 16 June 2026

Verb

The film cannily tugs on the heartstrings, pulls off classic slapstick comedy and sneaks obscure film references into its visuals. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026 Just across the state line, Alabama’s DeSoto State Park and Little River Canyon are also wonderful for stunning views, hikes and whatever else tugs your trotline. — Amber Harding Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026 There’s an elastic tension in the way that a character like Mal wants to confess, wants to share in community, and also wants to disappear, a situation that tugs at her relationships with her friends and with the audience. — Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 13 May 2026 The immediacy of svn4vr’s arrangements always tugs the heartstrings. — H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026 Young deftly tugs readers into an atmospheric novel perfect for spring book clubs. — Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026 The moody Moon tugs at vigorous Mars, resulting in a square that puts pressure on your wary 8th house and your typically more light-hearted 5th house. — Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 24 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tugs

Noun

Just as the first drag of a cigarette hits better than the pulls that follow it, there’s a real chance that a lie down on a 2000T will never be as pleasurable as the first time.

— Jaklin Romine Oct. 15, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
In the video, Porizkova can be seen doing exercises such as hammer curls, cable pulls, deadlifts, pull-ups, lunges and others.

— Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of pulls

Verb

The industry, which hauls 70% of all freight in America, has taken the biggest hit after the war with Iran sent fuel prices soaring.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026
Nevertheless, 2022’s Scream, revs the engine of the Scream 4, then hauls it in overdrive when more murderous mayhem storms through Woodsboro.

— Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of hauls

Verb

In bonds, France’s problem is America’s problem A lot of eyes are on the French bond market right now as Paris struggles to deal with its national debt.

— Jim Edwards, Fortune, 14 Oct. 2026
Today, Los Angeles struggles as productions flee to places including New Jersey, Georgia, London and Albuquerque, which are taking their turns as urban shape-shifters.

— Deputy Managing Editor, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of struggles

Verb

However, Fed officials fear that the longer the war drags on, the higher the likelihood that the spike will make its way through the broader economy and become embedded in consumer and business expectations.

— Jeff Cox, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
As the comet rotates, fresh ice enters the sunlight and sublimates; the escaping gas then drags entrained dust particles away from the nucleus.

— Joe Rao, Space.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Definition of drags

Verb

Yet, this tense adventure makes a strong case that bad parents can still teach good lessons, even when a kid strives to live in opposition to their folks.

— Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2026
Katie strives to use catering companies that adhere to the teachings of the Make America Healthy Again movement, one regular guest says, which encourages the consumption of raw milk and the avoidance of seed oils.

— Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of strives

Noun

Lee and his Burning co-writer Oh Jung-mi resist what might have been the first instinct of many filmmakers by refusing to make Ye-ji and Sang-woo overly patronizing rich jerks.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026
The Ars OpenForum is a place for readers to ask questions, compare notes, argue (without being jerks to each other), and go down all sorts of rabbit holes.

— Eric Bangeman, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of jerks

Verb

Thoroughly unimpressed by her suburban idyll, and evidently unmoved by her responsibilities as wife and mother, Denise labors in her basement on a novel whose protagonist wishes to forsake her family for a life in New York.

— Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026
Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves that.

— Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026