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
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
And gear that hugs and tugs in all the wrong places doesn’t whisper.
—Marisa McMillan, Outside, 27 Feb. 2026
Erikson, who was influenced by Freud, conceptualized eight life stages as tugs of war between opposing forces.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 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
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
And gear that hugs and tugs in all the wrong places doesn’t whisper.
—Marisa McMillan, Outside, 27 Feb. 2026
Erikson, who was influenced by Freud, conceptualized eight life stages as tugs of war between opposing forces.
—Shayla Love, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 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
-
Swapping cabinet knobs, drawer pulls and towel hooks is a fast way to modernize the space.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Update Your Mirror or Hardware Swapping cabinet knobs, drawer pulls and towel hooks is a quick project that refreshes the room without a renovation.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Now, the price shock from the war with Iran has become yet another headache for the beleaguered industry that hauls 70% of all freight in America.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
After lowering the helicopter to the water's surface, a flight crew member grabs the dog and hauls the pet aboard.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Bailey struggles in run defending, and his style of play is a lot like current Jet Will McDonald IV.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
The Nuggets will win the offensive boards, and even if Christian Braun struggles from 3 when dared to shoot, Minnesota will have no answer for Nikola Jokic.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The complexity of the infrastructure drags the numbers down for any profit margin.—
Jennifer Van Grove,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Gourinchas outlined a potential worst-case scenario in which the conflict drags on into 2027.—
Hugh Leask,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The executive said Kraken strives to make advanced trading strategies typically reserved for professional investors available to individual investors, according to Semafor.—
Tanaya Macheel,
CNBC,
14 Apr. 2026
-
Telemundo strives to stay out of the political fray, Garcia said.—
Meg James,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This was just the beginning of us young anarchists becoming judgmental jerks.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
7 Apr. 2026
-
In the new sequel, Grace teams with her estranged younger sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton), as they’re hunted by four elite families full of murderous jerks scrambling to become the High Seat of a Council that controls the world.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves that.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The groove between these serves as an at-the-ready bottle opener, and within the frame are hex wrenches for 2-mm and 5-mm bolts.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Eight days after panels were removed by National Park Service staff using crowbars and wrenches, dozens of people packed a federal courtroom to hear arguments from the city of Philadelphia and the federal government.—
Liz Crawford,
CBS News,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tugs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tugs. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
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