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
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
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
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
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
-
Make sure to clean and polish knobs and pulls.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Thanks to some vintage pulls from Marge’s high school wardrobe, Lisa becomes a style icon at Springfield Elementary, gaining her admission to the school’s exclusive fashion club.—
Andy Swift,
TVLine,
28 Sep. 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
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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
-
Sarr struggles to finish shots through contact against heavier bigs.—
Josh Robbins,
New York Times,
7 Oct. 2025
-
Forced to become a bloodsucker as part of Bill's punishment for vanquishing another, Deborah Ann Woll's Jessica struggles with her new, flesh-craving lifestyle.—
Matt Cabral,
Entertainment Weekly,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Linda also drags her daughter to a clinic for regular treatments, none of which seem to do any good.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
9 Oct. 2025
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The White House has also warned that federal workers will be fired, and floated the possibility of denying back pay to furloughed employees, if the shutdown drags on much longer.—
Kevin Breuninger,Erin Doherty,
CNBC,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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How Democrats fare in efforts to reclaim the governor's office could preview a national pattern and influence party strategies as the GOP strives to maintain control of the House and Senate while Democrats push for significant gains after a disappointing 2024.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
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Years after Air Force Combat Controller John Chapman fought to the death to save his fellow soldiers, an intelligence officer strives to prove his valor — leading an investigation that ultimately would secure him the Medal of Honor.—
Justin Kroll,
Deadline,
3 Oct. 2025
Noun
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The sequel sees Odenkirk’s Hutch Mansell attempt to take a family vacation, only to cross paths with violent jerks played by Colin Hanks and Sharon Stone.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
22 Sep. 2025
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The mechanism feels smooth and sturdy—no awkward jerks or wobbles.—
Zoë Sessums,
Architectural Digest,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
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Hearts, bathrobes, skulls, hammers, wrenches, Pinocchio and self-portraits constantly reappear throughout his practice, each revisited with new intensity and meaning over time.—
Y-Jean Mun-Delsalle,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Smart nutrition management all through the season always works better than trying to achieve stunning results with last minute fertilizer fixes.—
Paul Cappiello,
Louisville Courier Journal,
3 Oct. 2025
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Holding his hand helps calm him down (a magic touch that works well with real kids, too).—
Pamela Brill,
Parents,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tugs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tugs. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.
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