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
Relevance
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
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
3
as in to yank
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
wrenched the post out of the ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in agonizing
intensely or unbearably painful
forced to make the emotionally wrenching decision to place her mother in a nursing home
Synonyms & Similar Words
as in twisting
a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something
after a lot of wrenching and tugging, the plumber managed to pull the stubborn pipe free
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in pulling
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
as in damaging
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure
wrenched her shoulder by all of that heavy lifting
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in tearing
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
wrenched the post out of the ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wrench
Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2025
Screenwriter Dubuque clearly enjoyed writing reams of banter for Affleck and Bernthal, though the results have a way of tossing a wrench in the film’s pacing.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025
Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 30 Dec. 2024
Pilots wrenched the plane away from a potential collision before landing safely.
—Emily Steel, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2025
Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024
Her wrenching performances in Dublin brought her back to stardom on the London stage.
—Bob Blaisdell, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for wrench
Noun
Former officials from several different federal agencies who served under Mr. Trump's previous term and the Biden administration have told CBS News on background that looming workforce reductions could throw a wrench in the department's plans to speed up the permitting process.
—Anne Marie D. Lee, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2025
Screenwriter Dubuque clearly enjoyed writing reams of banter for Affleck and Bernthal, though the results have a way of tossing a wrench in the film’s pacing.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
Its story is very good – an emotional, gut wrenching exploration of grief and humanity — and Nyong’o is at her absolute best.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 30 Dec. 2024
Pilots wrenched the plane away from a potential collision before landing safely.
—Emily Steel, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2025
Verb
The heart wrenching film, based on a book by author Colleen Hoover, follows a flower shop owner named Lily Blossom Bloom (Lively), who falls in love with a dashing neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni) and reconnects with her stoic childhood sweetheart, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar).
—Jay Stahl, USA TODAY, 21 Dec. 2024
Her wrenching performances in Dublin brought her back to stardom on the London stage.
—Bob Blaisdell, The Christian Science Monitor, 20 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for wrench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrench
Adjective
-
Bear markets can be agonizing, but overall, markets are positive more often than not.—
Wes Moss,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2025
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But most of the buzz centers on the will-they-won’t-they romance of Staten (Duhamel) and Quinn (Kelly), who is agonizing over whether to leave Texas behind to pursue her musical dreams in New York.—
Elizabeth Logan,
Glamour,
22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The torturous clobbering comes after Joel saves Abby from infected hordes and is coldly executed in front of his surrogate daughter, Ellie (Bella Ramsey).—
Bryan Alexander,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
-
One of the hardest parts is her daily growth-hormone injections—a torturous process for everyone involved.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
After an excruciating wait, the parole board came back with a decision.—
Erin Moriarty, Liza Finley,
CBS News,
4 May 2025
-
In his memoir My Next Breath, released April 29, the Oscar nominee detailed the January 2023 experience in excruciating detail.—
Jack Smart,
People.com,
1 May 2025
Adjective
-
In the game, the station is in the bright sunlight, and the subway tunnel experience takes a lot longer, and isn’t quite as intense.—
Adam B. Vary,
Variety,
5 May 2025
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And, George, Elon Musk told reporters this week it's been a very intense 100 days.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 May 2025
Adjective
-
Pam Bennett, 68, was snorkeling 50 meters offshore at Treasure Cove on the southern Yorke Peninsula when a stingray struck her, piercing her arm with a 6-inch barb in a harrowing attack, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) reported.—
Escher Walcott,
People.com,
7 May 2025
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Through this harrowing period, Holiday applied the same methodical determination that characterized her playing career.—
Robert Daugherty,
Forbes.com,
7 May 2025
Adjective
-
His disregard not just for the conventional norms of the office but, more importantly, his disregard for the truth in matters both personal and presidential add fuel to what was already a pretty raging fire.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
azcentral,
14 Jan. 2020
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Newsletter Sign-up The aggressive forecasts add to a raging debate among energy executives and analysts over what the coming decades may hold for the industry.—
Sarah Kent,
WSJ,
10 Sep. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Wrench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrench. Accessed 18 May. 2025.
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