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
New Atlas, 10 Mar. 2026
Eight days after panels were removed by National Park Service staff using crowbars and wrenches, dozens of people packed a federal courtroom to hear arguments from the city of Philadelphia and the federal government.
—Liz Crawford, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
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
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
The groove between these serves as an at-the-ready bottle opener, and within the frame are hex wrenches for 2-mm and 5-mm bolts.
—New Atlas, 10 Mar. 2026
Eight days after panels were removed by National Park Service staff using crowbars and wrenches, dozens of people packed a federal courtroom to hear arguments from the city of Philadelphia and the federal government.
—Liz Crawford, CBS News, 30 Jan. 2026
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
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
-
The Colorado Rockies are rolling out a lineup of new food offerings ahead of Opening Day, featuring everything from oversized hot dogs to inventive twists on classic ballpark staples.—
Jasmine Arenas,
CBS News,
3 Apr. 2026
-
Peeps collaborations and twists Peeps remain a polarizing but perennial Easter staple, blending nostalgia with a growing lineup of modern collaborations.—
Deirdre Bardolf,
FOXNews.com,
3 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Scheduling tugs, fuel barges, crane operators, drayage trucks and drivers is complex indeed.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The ship is moved in, slowly and carefully; tugs help, and so does the shipyard crew.—
Carl Nolte,
San Francisco Chronicle,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
But then Vivian abruptly disappears without a trace, sending Taylor on a search for answers that pulls her into the Knox itself—as their new employee.—
Danielle Parker,
CBS News,
2 Apr. 2026
-
But earlier versions required long and forceful trigger pulls and had never caught on.—
Simon Akam,
Vanity Fair,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
As the GIs raise their guns, a pudgy hand in the backseat tears a strip of white cloth from his companion’s petticoat for the chauffeur to hang out the window.—
Alice Kaplan,
The New York Review of Books,
4 Apr. 2026
-
If the oyster tears slightly, don’t panic; flavor matters much more than perfection.—
Rai Mincey,
Southern Living,
10 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
According to the footage, Falcinelli then moves toward the officer before the officer yanks him by the arm.—
Devoun Cetoute,
Miami Herald,
24 Feb. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Tomislav Ivišić grabs a rebound against Houston in last weekend's Sweet 16.—
Greg Rosenstein,
NBC news,
3 Apr. 2026
-
After lowering the helicopter to the water's surface, a flight crew member grabs the dog and hauls the pet aboard.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In the new sequel, Grace teams with her estranged younger sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton), as they’re hunted by four elite families full of murderous jerks scrambling to become the High Seat of a Council that controls the world.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
-
Smarmy jerks can get obscenely wealthy in this country just by managing other people’s money.—
Gilad Edelman,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Carrera now plucks the melody in single notes.—
Peter Wayne Moe,
Longreads,
26 Mar. 2026
-
But if Rick later plucks something from behind that rock at the fire, are others going to start poking around looking for stuff?—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wrenches.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrenches. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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