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
Relevance
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
2
3
as in to yank
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
wrenched the post out of the ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wrench
Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 29 Apr. 2026
There are two tire changers, front side and rear side, who use air wrenches to loosen the single lug nut on the old tires and tighten the lug on the new tires.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
Maxie Younger, Pitchfork, 21 Apr. 2026
Loss, trauma and illness often bring the same wrenching questions of identity and the painful uncertainty of what comes next.
—Keith M. Bellizzi, The Conversation, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wrench
Noun
Leia grabbed a ratchet wrench and tightened some loose bolts on the ship.
—Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 29 Apr. 2026
There are two tire changers, front side and rear side, who use air wrenches to loosen the single lug nut on the old tires and tighten the lug on the new tires.
—Walter Villa, Miami Herald, 28 Apr. 2026
Verb
Blanton’s improvisational leanings wrench this aesthetic away from the realm of the programmatic, allowing his tracks to warp on a dime and filling them with plentiful rewinds, glitches, and abstract codas.
—Maxie Younger, Pitchfork, 21 Apr. 2026
Loss, trauma and illness often bring the same wrenching questions of identity and the painful uncertainty of what comes next.
—Keith M. Bellizzi, The Conversation, 13 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for wrench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrench
Noun
-
The beverage blends orange cordial and hibiscus agave with Lime’s signature frozen margarita, offering a bold twist on a classic to accompany award-winning mahi nahi tacos or a Porkito burrito.—
Amy Drew Thompson,
The Orlando Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2026
-
There are micro-twists within the major ones, expressive fillips that blend confessions and aphorisms, and grand reflections along with jousts of seductive wit.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
These planetesimals interact, collide, smash one another apart and/or get stuck together, and gravitationally tug on one another.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
30 Apr. 2026
-
An all-in-one matte essential, this no-tug formula is infused with shea butter and jojoba oil, applying smoothly over fine lines on mature lips without dragging.—
Micaela English,
Glamour,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
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As the Moon moves into Sagittarius, your 12th House of Reflection becomes more active, pulling you inward to process before acting.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
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The combination creates a vortex effect, which pulls hot ash, embers and debris into a spinning column.—
Blanca Begert,
Los Angeles Times,
3 May 2026
Verb
-
County staff briefings with commissioners, as well as commissioner discussions at the dais, could result in some property tax funds getting yanked from the deal’s final framework.—
Nicolas Villamil,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 May 2026
-
Soto yanked a ground ball through the right side, for a single.—
Jeff Fletcher,
Oc Register,
2 May 2026
Noun
-
Here, witches are real — and so are jerks.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The passengers include the requisite obnoxious jerk, Dan (Angus Sampson), already throwing his weight around and breaking no-smoking rules at LAX.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Kancey, 25, tore his pectoral muscle in a Week 2 win at Houston and missed most of last season.—
Rick Stroud,
The Orlando Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
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So when Khalil is killed and his family targeted exactly because of this work, Jimmy is torn by guilt and grief.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This can feel challenging and heart-wrenching.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
22 Jan. 2026
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Such is the case in Quiara Alegría Hudes’s wrenching and mordant debut novel, The White Hot, in which 26-year-old April Soto hits her breaking point and walks out on her 10-year-old daughter, Noelle.—
Ruth Madievsky,
The Atlantic,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Mikal Bridges grabbed the offensive rebound and threw it out to Jalen Brunson.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
5 May 2026
-
The director also grabbed images on the fly, using his iPhone during location scouting to get close-ups of the insects and on set during forest chases.—
Stuart Miller,
Los Angeles Times,
4 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wrench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrench. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
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