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

Momentus’ spacecraft can also serve as space tugs to ferry smaller satellites or experiments from one orbit to another. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 July 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 In contrast to conventional airport tugs, the electric TaxiBot is controlled directly by the pilot from the cockpit. — Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 10 June 2026 Its tech is being used to power the world’s first electric tugs that are about to go into service at the Port of Long Beach, under a deal worth $160 million announced in late 2025. — Alan Ohnsman, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026 In addition to increasing access, Taba said, ferries can offer transit redundancy in emergencies — as the city saw on 9/11, when an armada of tugs, ferries and sightseeing boats evacuated people trapped on the southern tip of Manhattan after the terrorist attacks. — Julia Press, Bloomberg, 22 May 2026

Verb

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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tugs

Noun

The promotion dropped on Monday, June 29 and almost immediately, the original $150,000 budget allocated to the promotion was drained —covering some 25,000 pulls.

— Pamela N. Danziger, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
Irwin, who is the sister of former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Trent Irwin, recorded 94 flag pulls and 15 interceptions as a safety.

— Dan Albano, Oc Register, 26 June 2026

Definition of pulls

Verb

Having already been booked for a foul on Brobbey, Fofana hauls down Wilson Isidor and earns his club’s eighth red card of the Premier League season.

— Andy Naylor, New York Times, 24 May 2026
According to the military newspaper Stars and Stripes, the Thunderbirds cost taxpayers about $35 million a year in salaries, aircraft, fuel, rehearsals and the C-17 cargo plane that hauls 50-plus support crew and spare parts to every stop on the tour.

— Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 May 2026

Definition of hauls

Verb

Charles builds their cabin with help from a kind widower and Civil War veteran, John Edwards (Warren Christie), who struggles with alcohol; Edwards’ sometime companion (Rebecca Amzallag) is a fiercely independent bar owner.

— Judy Berman, Time, 9 July 2026
Her performance as Jovie, the department store employee who struggles to get into the Yuletide frame of mind, was her big break.

— Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 8 July 2026

Definition of struggles

Verb

This leads to another unfortunate confrontation with a Bowden parent, as Tom drags Cady into the street and beats him up in full view of lookie-loos with phone cameras.

— Scott Tobias, Vulture, 10 July 2026
Trump speaks to Putin and Zelenskyy Ukraine has stepped up its attacks on Russian oil facilities in recent months, seeking to deplete President Vladimir Putin's war chest as the Kremlin's more than four-year war drags on.

— Sam Meredith, CNBC, 7 July 2026

Definition of drags

Verb

Resistance is mounting today, too, in response to AI and data center buildout, even as industrial policy everywhere strives to stimulate its growth.

— Nili Gilbert, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Perusing the menu online provides insight into how truly diverse Sushi Sushi strives to be.

— Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 1 July 2026