1
as in twists
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
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2
as in tugs
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 pulls
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 tears
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
wrenched the post out of the ground
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wrenches
Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 15 Jan. 2026
At a minimum, keep a multi-tool, a few wrenches, and a pair of pliers in it.
—Rabekah Henderson, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
Takahashi’s story delights in throwing more and more wrenches in the works with a growing cast of chaotic supporting characters (like the vicious Shampoo and the blowhard Tatewaki Kuno), and the anime adapts their antics as pastel-toned slapstick.
—Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
Instead of engineers with wrenches, its exam team of researchers aimed something far more penetrating than a flashlight at its aluminum skin.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 4 Dec. 2025
The brand is known for its Japanese-style joinery, meaning no tools, a packet of instructions, or too-small allen wrenches will stand between you and a good night’s sleep.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 1 Dec. 2025
Standing on the roof of the gondola car, patrollers use massive wrenches to unlock and open the gondola doors before rappelling into the car.
—John Meyer, Denver Post, 29 Nov. 2025
There are two additional wrenches that some plants throw in the germination gears.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 21 Nov. 2025
Trump has even thrown wrenches into the energy-transition plans of other countries.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
The director wrenches apart Ibsen’s terse and precise mechanism and makes room for a proliferation of arresting moments—caught on the wing in wide-screen images, thanks to Sean Bobbitt’s cinematography—that balance tragedy and horror with excitement and wonder.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
Gudsen, unmasked earlier as one of the two serial arsonists she's been hunting, unbuckles her seat belt and wrenches the wheel, sending them into a crash designed to kill her.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 15 Aug. 2025
Noun
Adjustable wrenches can round off the bolt head, making removal more difficult, Mansfield says.
—Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 15 Jan. 2026
At a minimum, keep a multi-tool, a few wrenches, and a pair of pliers in it.
—Rabekah Henderson, Southern Living, 2 Jan. 2026
Takahashi’s story delights in throwing more and more wrenches in the works with a growing cast of chaotic supporting characters (like the vicious Shampoo and the blowhard Tatewaki Kuno), and the anime adapts their antics as pastel-toned slapstick.
—Kambole Campbell, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2025
Instead of engineers with wrenches, its exam team of researchers aimed something far more penetrating than a flashlight at its aluminum skin.
—Kenna Hughes-Castleberry, Space.com, 4 Dec. 2025
The brand is known for its Japanese-style joinery, meaning no tools, a packet of instructions, or too-small allen wrenches will stand between you and a good night’s sleep.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 1 Dec. 2025
Standing on the roof of the gondola car, patrollers use massive wrenches to unlock and open the gondola doors before rappelling into the car.
—John Meyer, Denver Post, 29 Nov. 2025
There are two additional wrenches that some plants throw in the germination gears.
—Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 21 Nov. 2025
Trump has even thrown wrenches into the energy-transition plans of other countries.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
Verb
In the sober light of day, Arthur takes one look at the leach before him and wrenches it from its prey.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 6 Nov. 2025
The director wrenches apart Ibsen’s terse and precise mechanism and makes room for a proliferation of arresting moments—caught on the wing in wide-screen images, thanks to Sean Bobbitt’s cinematography—that balance tragedy and horror with excitement and wonder.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2025
Gudsen, unmasked earlier as one of the two serial arsonists she's been hunting, unbuckles her seat belt and wrenches the wheel, sending them into a crash designed to kill her.
—Jp Mangalindan, Time, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrenches
Noun
-
Don’t expect any culinary twists or surprises here.—
Brady MacDonald,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
-
The last shot of Twila and Bea linking hands, overwhelmed but about to face an impossible situation together, was always clear, but Iserson and Fogel added some of the most stunning twists in Season 1 at the last minute.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
22 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
These motorcycles were so well-built that they were even employed in both World Wars, mainly as dispatch bikes and sidecar tugs for the British armed forces.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
6 Dec. 2025
-
The first, known as the radial velocity technique, looks for slight wobbles in the star’s position, as the gravity of an orbiting exoplanet tugs it one way and then the other.—
Jeffrey Kluger,
Time,
1 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
So, say some small-time businessmen hire a truck through a dispatcher, the truck drives up to a field, and there, along the perimeter, a forklift crane pulls the pipe up from the sand.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
23 Jan. 2026
-
If Cloudflare pulls its support, the IOC likely has a backup plan.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Wielding his powers, Simon tears the cell bars away.—
JP Mangalindan,
Time,
27 Jan. 2026
-
This is definitely something that tears at your heartstrings.—
Alexandra Simon,
CBS News,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Judy yanks Mikey’s roller trunk out of the mud and leads him toward one of the nearby hiking trails.—
Michael Nied,
PEOPLE,
26 Nov. 2025
-
Suddenly, someone in the audience yanks her violently into the screaming mass of people.—
Madeleine Marr,
Miami Herald,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Weaver, a 6-foot-3 senior, is the energizer defender who grabs rebounds, gets dirty on the court and scores the occasional hustle basket.—
Thomas Jones,
Austin American Statesman,
21 Jan. 2026
-
In the clip, Annabeth (Leah Sava Jeffries) and Percy (Walker Scobell) are standing on the edge of the dance floor in what appears to be a school gymnasium when, all of a sudden, Annabeth takes a deep breath and grabs Percy’s hand, dragging him onto the dance floor.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
21 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Instead, the Engel-Jackson family is more run-of-the-mill awful — a recognizable pack of self-serving jerks more focused on the appearance of cheer than any real kindness.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
12 Dec. 2025
-
That rich people sure can be easily manipulable jerks?—
Angie Han,
HollywoodReporter,
14 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Suddenly, Jeff Parker plucks a sighing six-note guitar run, dropping his shoulders into a solo section that carries the tune to its swooning conclusion.—
Dash Lewis,
Pitchfork,
20 Dec. 2025
-
As Natalie walks away from Shayne, possibly for good, and as Venus and some entity named Gabby lunge for each other, Katie Maloney Schwartz Maloney plucks out her earbuds, pulls her sunglasses off her cunty little bob, closes her copy of The Shards, and packs up her bag.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
17 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wrenches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrenches. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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