1
as in pried
to draw out by force or with effort
the boy wrested the book out of his sister's hands
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
3
4
as in pulled
to move by or as if by a forceful rotation
I need a strong arm to wrest the lid off this pickle jar
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in grabbed
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
wrested open the stuck door of the cabinet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wrested
The rise of hip-hop and the films of Spike Lee in the late 1980s and early 1990s forced a revival of Malcolm X, a reclaiming of him by Black America, wrested from his historical framing by the white mainstream, which during his time did not love him.
—
Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
Ja'Quan McMillian wrested the ball from Bills receiver Brandin Cooks as the two tumbled to the ground in overtime.
—Mike Sando, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2026
McMillian wrested the ball away from Brandin Cooks at the Broncos 20-yard line when a field goal would have won the game for Buffalo (13-6).
—Arnie Stapleton, Baltimore Sun, 18 Jan. 2026
In 2024, OpenAI announced plans to convert into a for-profit company, which would have wrested control from the nonprofit and kept it as a separate arm.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026
At her funeral, mourners wrested her casket from the official pallbearers and carried it aloft through the streets of Cairo, to her burial place.
—Sam Kashner, Air Mail, 27 Dec. 2025
Gary Neal and his partners wrested control of Windwave from its nonprofit parent and sold it to themselves, hiding insider knowledge of lucrative deals with Amazon to keep the price low.
—Sean Patrick Cooper, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025
Hamas wrested power from the more secular and internationally recognized Fatah party in 2007 after winning legislative elections the previous year.
—Matt Bradley, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2025
Christian music star Amy Grant and her cousin, Andy Burton, have successfully wrested control of a valuable downtown church property.
—Liam Adams, Nashville Tennessean, 8 Oct. 2025
Literary Hub, 21 Jan. 2026
Ja'Quan McMillian wrested the ball from Bills receiver Brandin Cooks as the two tumbled to the ground in overtime.
—Mike Sando, New York Times, 19 Jan. 2026
McMillian wrested the ball away from Brandin Cooks at the Broncos 20-yard line when a field goal would have won the game for Buffalo (13-6).
—Arnie Stapleton, Baltimore Sun, 18 Jan. 2026
In 2024, OpenAI announced plans to convert into a for-profit company, which would have wrested control from the nonprofit and kept it as a separate arm.
—Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 8 Jan. 2026
At her funeral, mourners wrested her casket from the official pallbearers and carried it aloft through the streets of Cairo, to her burial place.
—Sam Kashner, Air Mail, 27 Dec. 2025
Gary Neal and his partners wrested control of Windwave from its nonprofit parent and sold it to themselves, hiding insider knowledge of lucrative deals with Amazon to keep the price low.
—Sean Patrick Cooper, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025
Hamas wrested power from the more secular and internationally recognized Fatah party in 2007 after winning legislative elections the previous year.
—Matt Bradley, NBC news, 21 Oct. 2025
Christian music star Amy Grant and her cousin, Andy Burton, have successfully wrested control of a valuable downtown church property.
—Liam Adams, Nashville Tennessean, 8 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrested
Verb
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The officers and two bystanders pried open the truck’s door and pulled the driver to safety, the agency said.—
Louis Casiano,
FOXNews.com,
9 Jan. 2026
-
And almost every president has understood, in one way or another, that America cannot be pried apart from its ideals and remain America.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
According to the indictment, the two defendants engaged in a racketeering conspiracy, committed multiple murders, engaged in drug distribution and extorted victims.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
-
An Orange County Civil Court wants Thompson to fill out an information sheet about his personal finances after last December’s $60,150 judgment in a lawsuit filed by Scott Meyer, who was extorted by Thompson’s Moving Giants.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
27 Nov. 2025
Verb
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But beyond those four, a number of prospects with local ties also earned a spot among the game’s rising stars.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Every fighter who won by KO or submission who didn’t get a $100K bonus earned an additional $25,000.—
Brian Mazique,
Forbes.com,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The city has now pulled its offer to purchase the new facility and has no plans to pursue any other properties for such purposes.—
Dillon Thomas,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Another child, a toddler, died at a Virginia hospital after being pulled from a frigid pond Monday, according to local police.—
Russ Bynum,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Baer grabbed the arms of his chair and began to stand.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
It was rapidly removed, but an image of the listing was grabbed ahead of that.—
Andrew Williams,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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On game night, Lavrenov was the one who threw elbows, threw down dunks and yanked down rebounds and threw outlet passes to start the fast break.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
23 Jan. 2026
-
Eventually, she is yanked from the car while still tangled in her seat belt.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
European automakers face a volatile year, squeezed by weak markets, a lack of profitability, uncertain European emissions regulations, and pressure for restructuring and mergers, while rushing to electrify and defend against burgeoning Chinese competition.—
Neil Winton,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
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On a typical day, Troy would have been getting ready to go to sleep on one of the two sets of bunk beds that had been squeezed into the kids’ bedroom at home.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Nellie wrenched her knees closer to her body, began rocking.—
Lizz Schumer,
PEOPLE,
20 Jan. 2026
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In a moment when even humanitarian work around these regions can be wrenched by bad-faith political agendas, Mustafa’s framing of the purpose of Saturday’s show was savvy and measured.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wrested.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrested. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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