as in twisting
a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something
no amount of wresting could loosen the rusted bolt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in pulling
to draw out by force or with effort
the boy wrested the book out of his sister's hands
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in extorting
to get (as money) by the use of force or threats
vowed that the bully had wrested his lunch money from him for the last time
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in earning
to get with great difficulty
farmers who were used to wresting a living from the harsh land
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in yanking
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 grabbing
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 wresting
Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2025
Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Trotsky hurled items from the desk at Mercader before wresting the ice pick from his grip.
—Josh Ireland, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Now the president is again pitching the idea that wresting control of Greenland away from Denmark could solve the problem.
—Josh Funk, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2026
In recent years, these Chinese middlemen have essentially become the go-to bankers for the biggest players in the US drug trade, authorities have said, wresting control from Latin American interests in what has amounted to a bloodless coup.
—Rob Kuznia, CNN Money, 18 Nov. 2025
If elections are more about wresting power from the other side, how does our country move forward?
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 6 Nov. 2025
The state and federal governments argued that NEPA does not apply to the state, and the appellate court agreed with them, suspending the lower court’s decision pending arguments on the merits of the appeal and wresting the case from District Judge Kathleen Williams until the appeal is resolved.
—Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
Lee assumed office in June as the head of the country’s liberal Democratic Party, wresting control from the conservative People Power Party.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 11 Oct. 2025
Noun
In pitching his services, Prince discussed wresting control of gangs to allow major highways to reopen.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 15 Aug. 2025
Verb
Companies bracing for higher energy costs are already wresting with tariffs, inflation and bigger labor costs.
—Christopher Rugaber, Los Angeles Times, 11 Mar. 2026
Trotsky hurled items from the desk at Mercader before wresting the ice pick from his grip.
—Josh Ireland, Harpers Magazine, 24 Feb. 2026
Now the president is again pitching the idea that wresting control of Greenland away from Denmark could solve the problem.
—Josh Funk, Fortune, 11 Jan. 2026
In recent years, these Chinese middlemen have essentially become the go-to bankers for the biggest players in the US drug trade, authorities have said, wresting control from Latin American interests in what has amounted to a bloodless coup.
—Rob Kuznia, CNN Money, 18 Nov. 2025
If elections are more about wresting power from the other side, how does our country move forward?
—Boston Herald Editorial Staff, Boston Herald, 6 Nov. 2025
The state and federal governments argued that NEPA does not apply to the state, and the appellate court agreed with them, suspending the lower court’s decision pending arguments on the merits of the appeal and wresting the case from District Judge Kathleen Williams until the appeal is resolved.
—Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2025
Lee assumed office in June as the head of the country’s liberal Democratic Party, wresting control from the conservative People Power Party.
—David Zimmermann, The Washington Examiner, 11 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wresting
Verb
-
Then, as the pandemic waned, in 2023 and early ’24, came two jolts to the system – federal pandemic-era assistance ended, pulling food and food-related funding away from charities, and the number of people seeking food continued to grow.—
Andre Mouchard,
Oc Register,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The trio rebuild the tower and Guerrero goes up again, pulling the line for about four minutes more before the group takes down the tower, wheels the cart away from the window and walks away.—
John Annese,
New York Daily News,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The official reports into that incident show that Epstein initially told prison officials that his cellmate had tried to kill him after extorting him for money.—
Julie K. Brown,
Miami Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
-
There had been tension between Bo Nagar’s force and the local PDF units since last year over his BNRA fighters allegedly extorting money at road checkpoints.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In his first full pro season in ’25, the southpaw dominated High-A before earning a promotion to Hartford.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
26 Mar. 2026
-
The film was a critical and commercial smash, earning more than $100 million at the box office and scoring seven Oscars including best picture.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
26 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
In other words, eliminating them from the animal kingdom would be like yanking an entire tier of Jenga blocks out of the middle of the tower.—
Jackie Flynn Mogensen,
Scientific American,
15 Mar. 2026
-
The body-camera footage shows Exum yanking the wheel left, toward the Rogue, then right.—
Ruby Cramer,
New Yorker,
12 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Kaufman-Renn hit his first seven shots — going 6-for-6 and grabbing five rebounds in the first half — on the way to 20 points.—
Janie McCauley,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Agents targeted grocery stores, churches, and construction sites, smashing car windows and pulling people from vehicles or grabbing them at a hardware store parking lot.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Scheduling tugs, fuel barges, crane operators, drayage trucks and drivers is complex indeed.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
29 Mar. 2026
-
The tug of war is just starting.—
Lee Ying Shan,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Entering his third season at the helm, Counsell is seemingly more comfortable with the uniqueness of managing the Cubs, from the day games to the prying media to the quirkiness of the ballpark, which can favor hitters one day and pitchers the next.—
Paul Sullivan,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
-
There are those who close their social media accounts, those who move to a ranch away from prying eyes, and those who decide to address the issue.—
Alessandra De Tommasi,
Vanity Fair,
23 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Serve with garlic toasts and lemon wedges for squeezing over if desired.—
Rebecca Firkser,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Photos and video show the explorers squeezing through jagged crevices deep inside the karsts, using flashlights to guide them further along an otherwise pitch-black maze of rocky burrows.—
Emily Mae Czachor,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wresting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wresting. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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