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
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Recent Examples of 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
Scheduling tugs, fuel barges, crane operators, drayage trucks and drivers is complex indeed.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026
The ship is moved in, slowly and carefully; tugs help, and so does the shipyard crew.
—Carl Nolte, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 Mar. 2026
If a public request tugs at private feelings, pause to check your boundaries, then accept only what supports family rhythms and true priorities.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
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
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
Noun
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
Scheduling tugs, fuel barges, crane operators, drayage trucks and drivers is complex indeed.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026
The ship is moved in, slowly and carefully; tugs help, and so does the shipyard crew.
—Carl Nolte, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 Mar. 2026
If a public request tugs at private feelings, pause to check your boundaries, then accept only what supports family rhythms and true priorities.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tugs
Noun
-
Olivia Hall, also a senior two-way player, had a TD catch, a number of flag pulls and an interception that snuffed out a Nature Coast scoring chance.—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
6 May 2026
-
His workout also consists of cable pulls, hanging leg raises, ab wheel rollouts and more.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
While the men are creeping around separately, Jerry is apprehended by a hotel employee, Fergal (Michael Patric), who hauls him off to the police station.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
1 May 2026
-
In total, the team hauls up several jugs and plates.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Green struggles to score 16 points in an empty gym.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
8 May 2026
-
The departures of certain Kaiser Permanente offices and a string of prominent restaurant and bar closures have come to symbolize the city’s struggles to retain employers and attract new ones.—
Shomik Mukherjee,
Mercury News,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
The performance itself grows increasingly grating as the runtime drags on, particularly when Johnny’s scene partners overpower him by connecting deeper and doing less.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
6 May 2026
-
The same logic should apply to the papering process itself, the document drafting and redlining that drags on long after the business points are ostensibly settled.—
George Heller,
HollywoodReporter,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
As Miranda faces public outcry and the pressures of a downturning publishing industry, Andy once again strives for her approval amid her steadfast pursuit of rigorous journalism.—
Natalie Oganesyan,
Deadline,
2 May 2026
-
Dan Drazen, Trinity’s vice president of development, said the overarching redevelopment design strives to make Mary Shepard Place more resemble what the neighborhood looked like prior to the construction of Bellevue Square in 1942 and what still exists today in the surrounding area.—
Kenneth R. Gosselin,
Hartford Courant,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Here, witches are real — and so are jerks.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
This was just the beginning of us young anarchists becoming judgmental jerks.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves that.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Engineers constantly tweak the system to throw new (virtual) wrenches in the cogs to keep its Super Cruise as up to date as possible with the oddest and unlikeliest scenarios.—
Kristin Shaw,
Popular Science,
30 Apr. 2026
-
There are two tire changers, front side and rear side, who use air wrenches to loosen the single lug nut on the old tires and tighten the lug on the new tires.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tugs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tugs. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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