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
Relevance
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of wrested
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
No existing rival has wrested market share from Google.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 2 Sep. 2025
In 1968, Palestinians resurrected an independence movement that wrested decision making away from Egypt and other Arab countries that had been humiliated in the Six-Day War.
—Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
But still, the record is a spiritual victory, full of wisdom wrested from audible pain.
—Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2025
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
No existing rival has wrested market share from Google.
—Julia Shapero, The Hill, 2 Sep. 2025
In 1968, Palestinians resurrected an independence movement that wrested decision making away from Egypt and other Arab countries that had been humiliated in the Six-Day War.
—Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2025
But still, the record is a spiritual victory, full of wisdom wrested from audible pain.
—Ew Staff Published, EW.com, 14 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrested
Verb
-
Firefighters pried part of the home open with an axe to douse the inside with water, the video shows.—
Lauren Penington,
Denver Post,
4 Jan. 2026
-
The manager of a rental car company who reported the vehicle stolen believed the lockbox containing the keys had been pried open, and said two other vehicles were stolen from the same garage.—
WCCO Staff,
CBS News,
23 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
By the following year, the FBI had recovered millions of dollars extorted from Colonial Pipeline by Darkside.—
Charlotte Reck,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
-
This man just could not stop getting extorted, which is not ideal for anyone but is especially unpleasant for the head of MI5.—
Brian Grubb,
Vulture,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Tim Stützle’s goal, his second of the day, earned Ottawa the extra point in the standings.—
Kevin Kurz,
New York Times,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Binder earned a master’s degree in criminal justice from Arizona State University in 2017 and a bachelor’s degree in business administration and finance from San Jose State University in 2002.—
Ryan Macasero,
Mercury News,
8 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Chicago pulled within 21-16 on D'Andre Swift's 5-yard run early in the fourth quarter.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
The slightly oversized cut offers comfort for long travel days, while looking pulled-together.—
Gabrielle Porcaro,
Travel + Leisure,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Javonte Green missed a potential tying 3-point try and Paul Reed grabbed the rebound, but committed Detroit's 25th turnover.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
11 Jan. 2026
-
Carolyn Collins scored 19 points and grabbed 10 rebounds, while Mya Korpal had 15 points as Winchester came back to defeat Reading 54-53 in Middlesex League play.—
Tyler McManus,
Boston Herald,
10 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Officer Alex Millan then yanked open the passenger door of the suspects’ car; at the same time, the car drove forward over the curb.—
Bay Area News Group,
Mercury News,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Furious too that anyone could think the defender had deliberately yanked the striker’s hair.—
Greg O'Keeffe,
New York Times,
8 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Panthers squeezed a few end-of-career seasons out of guys such as Dino Ciccarelli and Igor Larionov.—
Sean McIndoe,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Steamer or Iron When squeezed into a small suitcase, clothes have a tendency to wrinkle.—
Abbey Hudetz,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But this just shows you how every debate there is wrenched into this absurdist distortion.—
Fiction Non Fiction,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wrested.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrested. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share