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

Nothing about Capra is weirder, to be honest, than the way in which, from one film of his to the next, suicide tugs at our sleeve. — Anthony Lane, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026 Electric tugs docked alongside an LNG carrier being loaded at the LNG Canada docks in Kitimat, British Columbia, Canada, on Monday, July 14, 2025. — Sam Meredith, CNBC, 29 Sep. 2026 Pisces February 19 – March 20 When home tugs, work needs kinder structure. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 16 Sep. 2026 Firefly Aerospace started as a launch company and now builds Moon landers and space tugs. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026 The European Investment Bank (EIB) estimates that roughly 200 wrecks, including warships, barges, tugs, and cargo vessels, remain scattered across a five-kilometer stretch of the river near Prahovo. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 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

Verb

Our little skiff, known around here as an alijo, is bobbing like a toy as our captain gently tugs on a few lines descending into the water. — Megan Spurrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 28 Oct. 2026 In the Re/Icons clip, Cher tugs at the scarf in a playful reference to the show. — Chris Gardner, HollywoodReporter, 16 Oct. 2026 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 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

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tugs

Noun

Sophomore Taylor Novak leads the defense with 135 flag pulls and nine sacks.

— Kevin J. Farmer, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2026
In the past four games, all victories, the 5-foot-2 McGinley leads the team with 18 flag pulls and has six passes defended and an interception.

— Todd Holcomb, AJC.com, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of pulls

Verb

Using a thin, shimmering strand of silk, the spider hauls itself back up.

— Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 28 Oct. 2026
The industry, which hauls 70% of all freight in America, has taken the biggest hit after the war with Iran sent fuel prices soaring.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of hauls

Verb

Special teams struggles a bit Kicker Zane Gonzalez missed a 43-yard field goal attempt in the fourth quarter, extending the special teams issues for the Dolphins on a day when special teams seemed to be doing OK.

— Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 2 Nov. 2026
This provides a specialized foundation if your student struggles primarily with math.

— Karen Koehler, Sacbee.com, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of struggles

Verb

But if the war drags on and the cost of necessities like gas and groceries continues to rise, that could be a problem.

— Annie Martin, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 Nov. 2026
The research agency, ORF Middle East, said that support for tourism businesses and efforts to restart events could become harder to sustain if the conflict drags on.

— Inzamam Rashid, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of drags

Verb

UConn Women’s Basketball is proud to play in our Basketball is for Everyone Pride game and strives for a culture of inclusion and equity.

— Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 2 Nov. 2026
What follows is a tale of love, lust and regret that threatens the fate of an entire empire as Navier strives to reclaim her power.

— Denise Petski, Deadline, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of strives

Noun

This book includes nothing from Elain’s perspective; hopefully, the next book will prioritize her and possibly offer some magical explanation for why the rest of the Night Court has been such jerks to one another in this novel.

— Kathryn VanArendonk, Vulture, 28 Oct. 2026
Lee and his Burning co-writer Oh Jung-mi resist what might have been the first instinct of many filmmakers by refusing to make Ye-ji and Sang-woo overly patronizing rich jerks.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 6 Sep. 2026

Definition of jerks

Verb

Thoroughly unimpressed by her suburban idyll, and evidently unmoved by her responsibilities as wife and mother, Denise labors in her basement on a novel whose protagonist wishes to forsake her family for a life in New York.

— Peter Tonguette, The Washington Examiner, 22 Aug. 2026
Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves that.

— Tim Dunn, Boston Herald, 5 Mar. 2026