Synonyms of wrench

wrench 1 of 2

noun

1

as in twist

a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something

with a sharp wrench of the hammer I pulled the nail from the board

Synonyms & Similar Words

• twist
• twisting
• tug
• wrenching
• pull
• wresting
• yank
• wringing
• extraction
• displacement
• dislocation
• draft
• draw

2

as in tug

the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force

with one final hard wrench I was able to pull the cork from the bottle

Synonyms & Similar Words

• tug
• pull
• yank
• jerk
• haul
• draw
• grab
• tow
• pluck
• hitch
• drag
• snatch
• twitch

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• push
• thrust
• heave
• shove

wrench

2 of 2

verb

ˈrench 

1

as in to pull

to move by or as if by a forceful rotation

with one last sharp yank, he wrenched the lid off the bottle of ketchup

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pull
• tug
• yank
• twist
• pry
• pluck
• jerk
• remove
• wring
• wrest
• extract
• lug
• lever
• dredge (up)
• draw
• tweak
• shift
• budge
• jimmy
• displace
• dislocate
• disturb
• transpose
• transfer

2

as in to damage

to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure

wrenched her shoulder by all of that heavy lifting

Synonyms & Similar Words

• pull
• damage
• strain
• hurt
• stretch
• bruise
• rack
• weaken
• tax
• tear
• wound
• fray
• impair
• harm
• batter
• cripple
• mangle
• mutilate
• lame

3

as in to yank

to separate or remove by forceful pulling

wrenched the post out of the ground

Synonyms & Similar Words

• yank
• tear
• grab
• rip
• pull
• snatch
• pry
• wrest
• cut (off)
• extract
• seize
• snap (up)
• force
• sever
• jerk
• amputate
• uproot
• prize
• nab
• lop (off)
• nip
• dissever
• root (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reattach

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of wrench

Noun

When referee Rick Knox confiscated the belt, Christian loaded up his wrist brace with a wrench. — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026

And then Casey, my middle child, picked up the wrench and brought it in to me. — Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 26 Aug. 2026

Verb

Jacksonville Jaguars coach Tom Coughlin spent 45 gut-wrenching minutes pacing through the team’s training facility while vainly trying to get ahold of his son, Tim, who worked on the 60th floor of Two World Trade. — Michael Silver, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2026

The dam to my grief burst into loud, gut-wrenching sobs, wracking my body and crushing my soul. — Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 10 Sep. 2026