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
Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 21 May 2026
During a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Monday, April 27, Quinn was seen wresting the ball out of the Guardians fan’s hands.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
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
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
Vegas withstood an early barrage and then completely took over, defeating the top-seeded Avalanche 4-2 and wresting home-ice advantage away.
—Mark Lazerus, New York Times, 21 May 2026
During a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Monday, April 27, Quinn was seen wresting the ball out of the Guardians fan’s hands.
—Anna Lazarus Caplan, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wresting
Verb
-
Some families are pulling back on travel as gas and groceries get more expensive worldwide.—
Anton L. Delgado,
Los Angeles Times,
31 May 2026
-
Down 3-0, the notion of the Padres pulling this one out seemed outdated.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
The report describes Indigenous patrols in Venezuela allegedly working alongside armed groups controlling mining areas and extorting workers along river routes.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
13 May 2026
-
Dozens of armed groups run rampant in Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas, extorting businesses, kidnapping people and driving farmers off their land.—
Caitlin Stephen Hu,
CNN Money,
6 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
However, the new deduction limitation on top-earning individuals now applies to trusts and estates, according to a footnote in the Joint Committee on Taxation's recent tax explainer, better known as the Bluebook.—
Hayley Cuccinello,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
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This will allow savers to keep their money gathered in one location while also being able to pay expenses, all while earning close to $4 for every $100 deposited.—
Matt Richardson,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Verb
-
There are stories of major Nashville players yanking him off the street, keeping him drunk for days in hotels, then leaving Knoxville with stacks of new songs.—
Jonathan Rowe,
SPIN,
1 June 2026
-
Since early May, companies that used the dry milk powder in their food products have been yanking those products on the concern they might be contaminated with salmonella.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
31 May 2026
Verb
-
The best know how to play through grabbing or shoving of various degrees.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
Wembanyama finished Game 6 with 28 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.—
Devon Henderson,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Output and downtime tug hard as the intuitive Moon activates your 6th House of Work and Health, opposing fiery Mars in your 12th House of Solitude.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
28 May 2026
-
Your 2nd House of Resources faces a tug as temperamental Moon opposes aching Chiron in your 8th House of Intimacy and Resources, asking for careful boundaries.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
27 May 2026
Verb
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Its Duplicate Finder clears clutter, advanced renaming options make your files easy to track, and military-grade encryption protects everything from prying eyes.—
StackCommerce Team,
PC Magazine,
28 May 2026
-
That doesn’t mean robbing Billy of his shot at prying open Homelander’s skull, but with only a symbolic solution to Trump’s authoritarian rise — love conquers all!—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
20 May 2026
Verb
-
Carting around unhappy campers in 100-degree weather and squeezing work into a shorter window is not exactly being poolside with a marg.—
Abby McCloskey,
Twin Cities,
4 June 2026
-
The defense is disciplined, squeezing pressure from its trio of wings.—
Esfandiar Baraheni,
New York Times,
3 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Wresting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wresting. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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