wrench 1 of 2

noun

Definition of wrenchnext
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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wrench

2 of 2

verb

ˈrench How to pronounce wrench (audio)
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

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2
as in to damage
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure wrenched her shoulder by all of that heavy lifting

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3
as in to yank
to separate or remove by forceful pulling wrenched the post out of the ground

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wrench
Noun
If Aaron Donald unretires and rejoins the Los Angeles Rams, that could throw a wrench into John Harbaugh’s plans to get the Giants off to a fast start. — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 17 July 2026 And just last week, Apple threw a potential wrench into OpenAI’s hardware plans with a lawsuit alleging the theft by an ex-Apple employee of trade secrets related to hardware manufacturing. — Kyle Orland, ArsTechnica, 15 July 2026
Verb
This is, at times, a wrenching novel, strewn with broken bodies, but its atrocities never overwhelm its faith in creaturely communion, and in grief and longing that clarify, rather than obscure, one’s desires and selfhood. — Rachel Vorona Cote, The Atlantic, 30 July 2026 The ensemble eking out hope in the Terrordome includes Angela McBride (Suzette Llewellyn), a mother of two who goes on a violent rampage of justice-seeking after a gut-wrenching loss. — Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 30 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for wrench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrench
  1. twist
  2. tug
  3. pull
  4. yank
  5. wrenching
  6. jerk
  7. tear
  8. grab
Noun
  • Offering a clever twist, the warm cake is poked with the handle of a wooden spoon, creating space for a vanilla-pineapple pudding to sink deep into the crumb.
    — Erin Merhar, Southern Living, 2 Aug. 2026
  • The Free People One Frida Godet Midiskirt has those same ethereal qualities with a modern twist that feels wearable in everyday life.
    — Tessa Petak, InStyle, 1 Aug. 2026
Definition of twist
Noun
  • True to the messy nature of a break-up, the 14-song track list mirrors all of the tug and pull phases of heartbreak.
    — Maya Georgi, Rolling Stone, 7 Aug. 2026
  • This one includes an 83-foot hose (78 feet of retractable hose and a 5-foot lead) that automatically rewinds with a simple tug.
    — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of tug
Verb
  • The upstart golf league has had its future in flux for months after it was revealed that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) would pull its backing for LIV at the end of this season.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The vibes are awkward all around, and things only get weirder when Emira pulls Georgia aside to chat.
    — Tom Smyth, Vulture, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of pull
Verb
  • But with the Supreme Court sanctioning a White House immigration crackdown, Nelson’s permission to stay in the country appears likely to be yanked within days, leaving French worried.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 31 July 2026
  • Karol then appeared to try deescalating the abrupt encounter, but she was yanked by the fan again before security escorted him from the stage.
    — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 31 July 2026
Definition of yank
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
Definition of wrenching
Noun
  • That screwed up the works / And not due to his sloppy hiring / Of a crew of incompetent jerks.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Kris and Billy watch that one together in an intimate sleepover, sinking into the murky texture of a scene in which the virginal actor allowed a jerk to take off her clothes.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of jerk
Verb
  • In a neat little twist, the Giants also have Parks Harber tearing the cover off the ball in Triple A.
    — Grant Brisbee, New York Times, 4 Aug. 2026
  • But by the afternoon, Jaime was receiving text messages warning that her neighborhood of Five Mile Prairie was under evacuation orders as wildfires tore through Spokane County.
    — Cole Reynolds, Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of tear
Verb
  • Vandersloot also had 10 assists and Cardoso grabbed 13 rebounds.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026
  • When the Almaden Barnes & Noble closed last year after 26 years there was an emotional reaction from the community about a place to browse for books, magazines, puzzles and even grab a cup of coffee.
    — Pueng Vongs, Mercury News, 3 Aug. 2026
Definition of grab

Browse Nearby Words

wrecks
wrench
wrenched
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Cite this Entry

“Wrench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrench. Accessed 8 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wrench

Nglish: Translation of wrench for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wrench

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