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
Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 28 May 2026
The wrench is available in Sandblasted Titanium and Black PVD finishes.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 28 May 2026
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 20 May 2026
Directed by Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu, the heart-wrenching family drama stars Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve as the parents of a Romanian family with strict religious beliefs who move to a small village in Norway.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for wrench
Noun
The next season will follow up with the pair after the season-one finale, in which newcomer Hunter Davenport (Charlie Evans) throws a wrench in Dean and Allie’s secret relationship.
—Savannah Salazar, Vulture, 28 May 2026
The wrench is available in Sandblasted Titanium and Black PVD finishes.
—Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 28 May 2026
Verb
Simpson, butched up and closed off and vibrating with inarticulate pain, is superb in the part, and Jimenez’s rigid shoulders and frozen face are wrenching.
—Sara Holdren, Vulture, 20 May 2026
Directed by Romanian filmmaker Cristian Mungiu, the heart-wrenching family drama stars Sebastian Stan and Renate Reinsve as the parents of a Romanian family with strict religious beliefs who move to a small village in Norway.
—Ellise Shafer, Variety, 19 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for wrench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrench
Noun
-
Available in 16 summer-ready colors, the sweater top brings an elegant twist to your wardrobe with its dramatic sleeves, throwback boxy silhouette, and delicate ruffle detailing.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
11 June 2026
-
Instead, a strong, supportive hand from Griffin, whose writing is in each episode, underscores how to gradually build a story without feeling like an unearned twist is around the corner.—
William Earl,
Variety,
11 June 2026
Noun
-
However, instead of the pilot starting the engines during pushback and the tug disconnecting afterward, TaxiBot remains attached to the nose gear via a specialized pivoting clamping platform.—
David Szondy
June 07,
New Atlas,
7 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
Verb
-
The strong currents from flash floods can pull drivers off roadways.—
STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 June 2026
-
In Istanbul, a corn vendor is pulling bigger crowds than some of the city’s monuments.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
The Venice Biennale opened its most chaotic and contested edition in recent memory on May 9, with the prestigious Golden Lion yanked from contention after the jury quit in protest of Israel’s and Russia’s participation.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
-
Investors in Blackstone’s flagship private credit fund sought to yank 10% of their money this quarter, showing that the jitters engulfing the industry may be deepening.—
Rohan Goswami,
semafor.com,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Iyer called the case heart-wrenching.—
Nick Ferraro,
Twin Cities,
8 May 2026
-
This can feel challenging and heart-wrenching.—
Cori Sears,
The Spruce,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
His profession is to be the screaming jerk on reality shows, and his house burns down.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
28 May 2026
-
These measurements enabled scientists to identify sudden changes linked to the Pacific reversal and a geomagnetic disturbance known as the 2017 geomagnetic jerk.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
25 May 2026
Verb
-
Reuniting the Weapons producing duo of Zach Cregger and Roy Lee, Little One watches as a sudden change in a child’s behavior threatens to tear a picture-perfect family apart.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
9 June 2026
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Another incident occurred in March 2025 when two teenage girls were allegedly assaulted by fellow students at a middle school in Waterbury and had their hijabs torn off.—
Livi Stanford,
Hartford Courant,
9 June 2026
Verb
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There’s plenty to see and do on this one street—stop by Colonial Park Cemetery, established in 1750; the Juliet Gordon Low Birthplace Museum, honoring the founder of the Girl Scouts; then grab a bite at Marbled & Fin, where luxe appetizers and aged steaks reign supreme.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
9 June 2026
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After Corbin made his introduction to the Islanders as a whole back at the fire pit, Melanie was the first to grab him for a chat.—
Carolyn Burt,
Oc Register,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wrench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrench. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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