WRESTING Synonyms: 90 Similar and Opposite Words

wresting 1 of 2

noun

as in twisting

a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something no amount of wresting could loosen the rusted bolt

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wresting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of wrest

as in pulling

to draw out by force or with effort the boy wrested the book out of his sister's hands

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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as in earning

to get with great difficulty farmers who were used to wresting a living from the harsh land

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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

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as in grabbing

to separate or remove by forceful pulling wrested open the stuck door of the cabinet

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reattaching

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 wresting

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

Rodriguez was seen on camera sitting behind the boy and pulling his arms behind his back causing his shoulders to flare out, police say.

— Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
Last week, the archdiocese accused CPS of abruptly pulling the funding from only Catholic schools before the school year ended, even questioning if the district had mismanaged money and if the district was targeting their religious schools.

— Sara Tenenbaum, CBS News, 17 Apr. 2026