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
-
Even in the harshest descriptions of the violence and almost unbelievably cruel twists of fate that Yarris endured (the DNA testing keeps getting accidentally mucked up), Brody lends him a vital indomitable spark.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2026
-
The lawsuit and letter are the latest twists in what’s been a dramatic month for West Suburban.—
Lisa Schencker,
Chicago Tribune,
14 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
In space, the gravitational tugs from passing planets act like those currents.—
Patrick M. Shober,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2026
-
The research builds on earlier work where robotic guide dogs responded to physical cues like leash tugs.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Her The Kindred’s Curse Saga series follows healer Diem Bellator as the search for her missing mother pulls her into a growing civil war between the oppressed mortals of Emarion and the magic-wielding demigods known as the Descended.—
Denise Petski,
Deadline,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Brown again pulls his hands away from the cops before Maden starts punching him.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The company regularly buys brand-new devices and tears them to pieces.—
Julian Lucas,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
As Detective Maden takes the wine bottle from him and the officers reach for his wrists, Brown resists and yanks his arms back, the video shows.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Leaphorn yanks the jug his way (despite being cuffed) and is able to put the filter packet down his pants.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Keep those rosary beads handy whenever Aaron Gordon grabs his hammy.—
Bennett Durando,
Denver Post,
17 Apr. 2026
-
Maya Hawke grabs her guitar and gets in front of the mic at the SiriusXM Studios in New York City on April 13.—
Katie Hill,
PEOPLE,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This was just the beginning of us young anarchists becoming judgmental jerks.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
7 Apr. 2026
-
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
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 23 Apr. 2026.
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