Synonyms of tugs

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pulls
• yanks
• jerks
• wrenches
• hauls
• draws
• grabs
• plucks
• tows
• twitches
• hitches
• snatches
• drags

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pushes
• thrusts
• heaves
• shoves

tugs

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of tug

1

as in hauls

to cause to follow by applying steady force on

tugged on the door until it opened

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pulls
• hauls
• drags
• tows
• draws
• lugs
• carries
• attracts
• heaves
• hales
• yanks
• jerks
• moves
• transports
• conveys
• ferries

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• pushes
• drives
• propels
• thrusts
• shoves

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

• struggles
• strives
• labors
• works
• tries
• endeavors
• plows
• slaves
• toils
• hustles
• plugs
• sweats
• humps
• plods
• digs (away)
• grubs
• pegs (away)
• bangs away
• slogs
• strains
• fags
• travails
• beavers (away)
• drudges
• sweats blood
• exerts
• moils
• hammers (away)
• exercises
• drives
• attacks
• buckles (down)
• applies (oneself)
• pitches in
• knuckles down
• scratches
• overworks
• wades
• grinds (out)
• digs in
• essays
• trudges
• ekes out
• overexerts
• scrabbles
• puts out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• breaks
• slackens
• eases (up)
• lets up
• rests
• lazes
• shirks
• idles
• dallies
• hangs (around or out)
• slacks (off)
• chills
• bums
• lounges
• relaxes
• goldbricks
• unwinds
• loafs
• dillydallies
• goofs (off)
• plays
• hacks (around)
• hangs
• lolls
• reposes
• basks
• footles
• dabbles
• fribbles
• fools around
• doodles
• trifles
• vegges out
• hangs about
• messes around
• putters (around)
• monkeys (around)
• goofs (around)
• potters (around)

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of tugs

Noun

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

Momentus’ spacecraft can also serve as space tugs to ferry smaller satellites or experiments from one orbit to another. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 July 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

Max tugs at my shirt for a water bottle. — Joseph Trinidad, Longreads, 16 June 2026

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

In addition to increasing access, Taba said, ferries can offer transit redundancy in emergencies — as the city saw on 9/11, when an armada of tugs, ferries and sightseeing boats evacuated people trapped on the southern tip of Manhattan after the terrorist attacks. — Julia Press, Bloomberg, 22 May 2026

Verb

The film cannily tugs on the heartstrings, pulls off classic slapstick comedy and sneaks obscure film references into its visuals. — David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 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

Riley tugs the false eyelashes off. — Alex Ross, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026