wrench 1 of 2

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

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

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
The plea throws a wrench in Mangione’s parallel state prosecution scheduled for trial next month. Molly Crane-Newman, New York Daily News, 14 Aug. 2026 But there’s still a possibility that a wrench could be thrown into Maryland’s plans. Christine Condon, Baltimore Sun, 14 Aug. 2026
Verb
On Tuesday her family made the wrenching decision to remove her, TMZ reported. Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026 The play’s Bohemian rhapsody is as full of light and life and silliness as its time in Sicilia is wrenching. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wrench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrench
Noun
  • And not even a strong Campbell performance and killer kills could make up for a sad use of AI and the least effective finale twist reveal to date.
    Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Usually, that would mean that Naheim, Joseph, and Bryan would all be going home — but the judges decide, in another twist, to bring a fourth designer to the finale.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Firefly Aerospace started as a launch company and now builds Moon landers and space tugs.
    Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Brushes with beads that tug at your strands and feel rough on the scalp?
    Gina Vaynshteyn, StyleCaster, 31 Aug. 2026
Verb
  • Jackson’s availability was curbed by red cards at Chelsea — in Bruges, a barge and shirt pull with defender Han-Beom Lee suggested those flickers of fury and confrontation still burn.
    Jacob Tanswell, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026
  • When his brother pleads for help, Tariq is pulled back into the London criminal underworld and the dangerous orbit of their crime boss mother.
    Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 9 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Sandra Ogbebor hunches over her softly humming refrigerator and scours through bottles before finally yanking out an orange juice.
    Light Oriye Tamunotonye, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Sep. 2026
  • In one clip, a pair of people sit in a small box attached to a wire as they're yanked onto a platform across a river in Nuwakot, Nepal.
    Robert McGreevy, FOXNews.com, 2 Sep. 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
  • According to children’s program manager Fedeline Julien, who has worked for Beaches since 1999, the area where Treasure Beach stands used to be dedicated to beach parties, team member residences, and the jerk truck.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Sep. 2026
  • In late August, Mayor Mamdani hosted a celebration of Caribbean culture at Gracie Mansion with plenty of patties and jerk chicken to go around.
    Reshma B, VIBE.com, 7 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Right now, nearly one million fragments of metal, paint, and shattered rocket parts larger than a single centimeter are tearing through Earth’s orbit at extreme speeds.
    Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 9 Sep. 2026
  • With Thomas, Broberg, Joel Hofer and so many good, young pieces, there’s no reason to tear anything down.
    Jeremy Rutherford, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Running back If you’re not used to seeing the running back position here, grab a ticket and join the line.
    Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
  • Just like the rest of us that day, most of the dead were just going about such ordinary tasks as showing up for work, grabbing a cup of coffee and traveling on a commercial jetliner, or just trying to lend a hand to people in trouble.
    Mike Kelly, USA Today, 7 Sep. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Wrench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrench. Accessed 13 Sep. 2026.

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