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

Although the buildings have gotten taller over the years, the essential tool of the trade — a spud wrench that every ironworker carries on his belt to tighten the bolts that hold the beams together — has not changed in fifty years. — Jeff Goodell, Rolling Stone, 11 Sep. 2026

This game being in Melbourne does throw a wrench into the betting strategy. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Verb

The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, after passengers stormed the cockpit and wrenched back controlfrom the attacker, who Israeli officials suspect was trying to crash the plane. — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Hannah-Jones has written a stunning essay, her most emotionally wrenching work since her 2014 investigation into school segregation in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. — Jay Caspian Kang, New Yorker, 29 Sep. 2026