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
Alan Ohnsman, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
Some companies are designing tugs that could boost missions from their drop-off orbits to higher altitudes, potentially even to the Moon or beyond the Solar System.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2026
Gravity from huge superclusters tugs on the motions of galaxies across the universe, drawing them closer.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 May 2026
Video of the pair's initial greeting at the White House on Monday is circulating online, showing the president firmly grasping hands with the monarch, and giving a few characteristic tugs.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
The ships represented by red shapes are tankers, while green shapes represent cargo ships and light blue ones are tugs, service or military vessels.
—Dana Karni, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
In space, the gravitational tugs from passing planets act like those currents.
—Patrick M. Shober, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
The research builds on earlier work where robotic guide dogs responded to physical cues like leash tugs.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Apr. 2026
Amy Heckerling, in her feature debut, has proven herself to be a truly gifted director, able to tickle the ribs with one hand while the other tugs at the heartstrings.
—Gina Friedlande, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
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
Noun
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
Some companies are designing tugs that could boost missions from their drop-off orbits to higher altitudes, potentially even to the Moon or beyond the Solar System.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 19 May 2026
Gravity from huge superclusters tugs on the motions of galaxies across the universe, drawing them closer.
—Keith Cooper, Space.com, 4 May 2026
Video of the pair's initial greeting at the White House on Monday is circulating online, showing the president firmly grasping hands with the monarch, and giving a few characteristic tugs.
—Kathryn Palmer, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2026
The ships represented by red shapes are tankers, while green shapes represent cargo ships and light blue ones are tugs, service or military vessels.
—Dana Karni, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
In space, the gravitational tugs from passing planets act like those currents.
—Patrick M. Shober, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
The research builds on earlier work where robotic guide dogs responded to physical cues like leash tugs.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Apr. 2026
Amy Heckerling, in her feature debut, has proven herself to be a truly gifted director, able to tickle the ribs with one hand while the other tugs at the heartstrings.
—Gina Friedlande, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 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
-
Designed with adaptive carry options, magnetic closures, oversized pulls, and tactile cues, it was shaped directly by feedback from athletes like Daniels.—
Keely Cat-Wells,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
-
The leather is accented by tonal crimson suede paisley cutouts and the style also includes extra short Western earn pulls with bullet pull holes.—
Jaden Thompson,
Footwear News,
22 May 2026
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
Verb
-
In it, a Native Hawaiian family struggles to reclaim the ancestral lands that colonization, tourism, and rampant development threaten to overrun.—
Gabrielle Bellot,
Literary Hub,
29 May 2026
-
Over the last few years, Keira has lost her ability to speak, has started having seizures, and struggles more and more with walking.—
Elise Esposito,
Boston Herald,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
In a chilling sequence, Dennis ties a garbage bag over Mallory’s head and drags her into the woods.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
-
The United States’ stockpiles of crude oil, gasoline and diesel are falling fast as the war with Iran drags on.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
In a world of jaded billionaires, psychiatrist-gurus, bio-hacked tech bros, AI labs, and disillusioned teens being optimized in elite private schools, an audacious data-mining CEO (Magnussen) strives to turn insight and influence into profit and power.—
Rosy Cordero,
Deadline,
3 June 2026
-
Denver Fringe strives to make the arts accessible to all, with tickets priced at $20 each for most shows.—
Laura Daily,
Denver Post,
3 June 2026
Noun
-
To relitigate the matter on behalf of Musk only served to underline the conviction that all of these jerks deserved one another.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
New Yorker,
20 May 2026
-
Here, witches are real — and so are jerks.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves that.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Unpredictable hours, loud noises, finicky clients, wrenches, needles.—
Jane Bua,
New Yorker,
1 June 2026
-
With all these features and a unique design that eliminates all the rattling and imprecise grips of conventional wrenches, this tool could find frequent use in your workshop.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
18 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tugs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tugs. Accessed 8 Jun. 2026.
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