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
Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 13 Jan. 2026
These motorcycles were so well-built that they were even employed in both World Wars, mainly as dispatch bikes and sidecar tugs for the British armed forces.
—New Atlas, 6 Dec. 2025
The first, known as the radial velocity technique, looks for slight wobbles in the star’s position, as the gravity of an orbiting exoplanet tugs it one way and then the other.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 1 Dec. 2025
Exploring the joys and heartbreak of raising children from a mother’s perspective tugs at the heart.
—Jackie Charniga, USA Today, 29 Nov. 2025
Video showed Turkish tugs tackling an extensive fire on board the ship about 30 miles off the Turkish coast.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 29 Nov. 2025
So Hadsel tied a string to Splashand trained him to respond to a specific number of tugs.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 11 Nov. 2025
Less obvious is how the Earth itself tugs at the solid rocky surface of the moon.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Throughout his time at the Palace, several women have reported feeling tugs on their hair or having the sensation that someone is lingering right over their shoulder.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Oct. 2025
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
Campaign Evolved is a safe bet in an increasingly unstable market that tugs on the heartstrings of veteran fans while pulling in a whole new community of potential PlayStation players conveniently in time for its big anniversary.
—Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
On Earth, the result is the changing ocean tides as our moon tugs at the water.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
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
Noun
As part of its support service to the Royal Navy, Serco intends to purchase 24 vessels, including a mix of ASD tugs, reverse-stern-drive tugs, pilot boats, barges, and crane barges, for which the contract was awarded to Dutch defence manufacturer Damen.
—Ameya Paleja, Interesting Engineering, 13 Jan. 2026
These motorcycles were so well-built that they were even employed in both World Wars, mainly as dispatch bikes and sidecar tugs for the British armed forces.
—New Atlas, 6 Dec. 2025
The first, known as the radial velocity technique, looks for slight wobbles in the star’s position, as the gravity of an orbiting exoplanet tugs it one way and then the other.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 1 Dec. 2025
Exploring the joys and heartbreak of raising children from a mother’s perspective tugs at the heart.
—Jackie Charniga, USA Today, 29 Nov. 2025
Video showed Turkish tugs tackling an extensive fire on board the ship about 30 miles off the Turkish coast.
—Tim Lister, CNN Money, 29 Nov. 2025
So Hadsel tied a string to Splashand trained him to respond to a specific number of tugs.
—Frederick Dreier, Outside, 11 Nov. 2025
Less obvious is how the Earth itself tugs at the solid rocky surface of the moon.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
Throughout his time at the Palace, several women have reported feeling tugs on their hair or having the sensation that someone is lingering right over their shoulder.
—Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
Campaign Evolved is a safe bet in an increasingly unstable market that tugs on the heartstrings of veteran fans while pulling in a whole new community of potential PlayStation players conveniently in time for its big anniversary.
—Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 24 Oct. 2025
On Earth, the result is the changing ocean tides as our moon tugs at the water.
—Nola Taylor Tillman, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
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
-
Schrader suggests wiping down cabinetry knobs or pulls, light switches, and doorknobs at least once a month to make your home more sanitary.—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
5 Feb. 2026
-
The claim is that being around it for years could weaken tendons and soft tissue, leading to more ACL tears, Achilles injuries, hamstring pulls and similar issues.—
Ryan Morik,
FOXNews.com,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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After the gating email, Otto hauls Harper in for a talking-to.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
12 Jan. 2026
-
Global warming could doom them Under no light but the stars, a green sea turtle hauls herself out of the surf and onto the familiar sand of Alagadi Beach on the northern coast of Cyprus.—
Elizabeth Preston,
Scientific American,
16 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
As luxury struggles to woo a young generation of consumers who have not yet accumulated enough wealth to drop five figures on a handbag, the cohort of twentysomethings has instead become enamored with more affordable fitness activities.—
Sasha Rogelberg,
Fortune,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Karlic also struggles with strictly online classes, further limiting his options.—
Olivia Stevens,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2026
Verb
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The Game Night actor then sits down in a salon chair and jokingly drags Aniston for her lack of professionalism.—
Emma Banks,
InStyle,
3 Feb. 2026
-
Partial government shutdown drags on Meanwhile, a number of other federal agencies are snared in the funding standoff as the government went into a partial shutdown over the weekend.—
Lisa Mascaro,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The organization, which strives to provide services to anyone who needs them, would almost certainly have to reduce hours or possibly even close clinics.—
Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board,
The Orlando Sentinel,
1 Feb. 2026
-
While it is not accredited, the IPS strives to be no less rigorous or critical than the programs that seek such validation.—
Catherine Taft,
Artforum,
1 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Moreover, where most clients are great, some are jerks.—
Kathy Kristof,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Jan. 2026
-
The herks and jerks, the highs and lows, the lack of consistency that has summed up so much of McCarthy’s season reared their oft-ugly heads.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
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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
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Adjustable wrenches can round off the bolt head, making removal more difficult, Mansfield says.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Throughout the novel, Nikki works tirelessly to prove herself amongst industry male figureheads who don’t value her voice, personhood, and brilliance, while managing pressure from a boss who isn't her advocate and navigating challenging colleagues steeped in misogyny and who are power-hungry.—
Dominique Fluker,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
But that’s not how state terror works.—
M. Gessen,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tugs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tugs. Accessed 9 Feb. 2026.
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