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
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
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, 24 Sep. 2025
This pulling motion tugs on artificial bones, creating movements similar to how the human body works.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
Kavya tugs on my arm, her nose is scrunched up, eyebrows discombobulated.
—Navdeep Singh Dhillon, Parents, 21 Aug. 2025
Images from Japanese public broadcaster NHK showed tugs spraying water on the front of the New Orleans.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2025
An instant later, there came three or four more tugs.
—Anthony A. Ciuffa, Outdoor Life, 7 Aug. 2025
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
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
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, 24 Sep. 2025
This pulling motion tugs on artificial bones, creating movements similar to how the human body works.
—Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
Kavya tugs on my arm, her nose is scrunched up, eyebrows discombobulated.
—Navdeep Singh Dhillon, Parents, 21 Aug. 2025
Images from Japanese public broadcaster NHK showed tugs spraying water on the front of the New Orleans.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2025
An instant later, there came three or four more tugs.
—Anthony A. Ciuffa, Outdoor Life, 7 Aug. 2025
Verb
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
-
Low-Quality Fixtures Finishes and fixtures—like faucets and lights, to door hardware and drawer pulls—might seem like an easy place to save on cost, but experts, designers, and Redditors alike often warn that cheap fixtures will quickly reveal their flaws.—
Lauren Bengtson,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Oct. 2025
-
Make sure to clean and polish knobs and pulls.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
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While Alex is reeling from his discovery, Dwayne attacks him and hauls him away.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Henry is surprised by the reaction of the crowd, which hauls him outside to drown him in the well for sticking his nose in clan matters.—
Lincee Ray Published,
EW.com,
8 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
The show follows Snow's Sophie, who struggles to adjust to a new life in Texas but forms a close and complicated bond with Akerman's Margo.—
Brenton Blanchet,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
-
Many believe if Gabriel struggles again Sunday against the Patriots that the Browns could use the following week’s bye to prepare Sanders for his first career start against the Jets the following week.—
Michael Gallagher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
However, the risk of adverse effects grows the longer a shutdown drags on.—
Rachel Barber,
USA Today,
22 Oct. 2025
-
As the government shutdown drags on, Americans are turning more negative on Congress, according to new Gallup polling.—
Morgan Chalfant,
semafor.com,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Every athlete faces the fear of failure and strives to uphold a standard.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Unity strives for timely payment processing, typically aiming to complete clean claims within about a month, with accountability built into its agreements.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
21 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Gave the two jerks her very best.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Because even in a world of monsters, ghouls, and greedy jerks, the good guys still prevail.—
Gwen Ihnat,
Entertainment Weekly,
18 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Torque wrenches are used to apply a specific amount of torque to a nut or bolt.—
Keenan Thompson,
USA Today,
20 Oct. 2025
-
Washington — The roughly 20 plumbers of Oak Creek Plumbing & Remodeling in the Milwaukee, Wisconsin area don’t just bring toolkits with wrenches, pliers and Teflon tape to customers’ homes these days.—
Bryan Mena,
CNN Money,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
They are being told by their bosses what works based on data and research.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Oct. 2025
-
Carrie Preston has returned to reprise her beloved role as Elsbeth Tascioni, the quirky yet brilliant attorney who works alongside the New York Police Department to help solve crimes.—
Caroline Blair,
PEOPLE,
23 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tugs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tugs. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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