Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

wrest

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of wrest

1 to draw out by force or with effort
  • The boy wrested the book out of his sister's hands.
Synonyms of wrest

extract, prize, pry, pull, root (out), tear (out), uproot, wring, yank
Words Related to wrest

mine, pluck, remove, take (out), withdraw
Near Antonyms of wrest

implant, insert, install, instill

cram, jam, ram, stuff, wedge
2 to get (as money) by the use of force or threats
  • debt collectors wresting money from intimidated debtors
Synonyms of wrest

exact, extort, wring
Words Related to wrest

bleed, fleece, gouge, milk, skin, squeeze

cheat, gyp, racketeer, swindle

coerce, compel, force
3 to get with great difficulty
  • farmers who were used to wresting a living from the harsh land
Synonyms of wrest

eke (out), scrape (up or together), scrounge, wring
Words Related to wrest

acquire, attain, draw, earn, gain, land, obtain, procure, secure
4 to move by or as if by a forceful rotation
  • I need a strong arm to wrest the lid off this pickle jar.
Synonyms of wrest

twist, wrench, wring
Words Related to wrest

draw, dredge (up), extract, jerk, lug, pluck, pull, tug, tweak, yank

jimmy, lever, pry

budge, dislocate, displace, disturb, remove

shift, transfer, transpose
5 to separate or remove by forceful pulling
  • wrested open the stuck door of the cabinet
Synonyms of wrest

rip, tear, wrench, yank
Words Related to wrest

grab, nab, seize, snap (up), snatch

lop (off), nip

amputate, cut (off), dissever, sever

extract, force, jerk, prize, pry, pull, root (out), uproot
Near Antonyms of wrest

reattach

Learn More about wrest

  1. See words that rhyme with wrest Dictionary: Definition of wrest Spanish Central: Translation of wrest Nglish: Translation of wrest for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of wrest for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up wrest? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games