Synonyms of wresting

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• twisting
• tug
• twist
• wrench
• wrenching
• wringing
• pull
• yank
• extraction
• displacement
• draw
• dislocation
• draft

wresting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of wrest

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

• pulling
• prying
• extracting
• yanking
• plucking
• uprooting
• removing
• tearing (out)
• wringing
• corkscrewing
• prizing
• taking (out)
• mining
• withdrawing
• rooting (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• inserting
• installing
• instilling
• implanting
• stuffing
• jamming
• wedging
• ramming
• cramming

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

• extorting
• squeezing
• wringing
• coercing
• exacting
• milking
• forcing
• bleeding
• gouging
• swindling
• fleecing
• skinning
• cheating
• compelling
• racketeering

3

as in earning

to get with great difficulty

farmers who were used to wresting a living from the harsh land

Synonyms & Similar Words

• earning
• obtaining
• squeezing
• scraping (up or together)
• scrounging
• procuring
• securing
• acquiring
• wringing
• attaining
• gaining
• eking (out)
• drawing
• landing

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

• pulling
• yanking
• tugging
• wrenching
• plucking
• twisting
• wringing
• removing
• jerking
• extracting
• prying
• lugging
• drawing
• tweaking
• dredging (up)
• dislocating
• displacing
• shifting
• levering
• transposing
• transferring
• disturbing
• jimmying
• budging

5

as in grabbing

to separate or remove by forceful pulling

wrested open the stuck door of the cabinet

Synonyms & Similar Words

• grabbing
• yanking
• tearing
• ripping
• snatching
• pulling
• wrenching
• extracting
• seizing
• prying
• cutting (off)
• severing
• forcing
• snapping (up)
• amputating
• uprooting
• nabbing
• lopping (off)
• jerking
• nipping
• dissevering
• prizing
• rooting (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reattaching

Example Sentences

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

The asset management giant proposed operating the airport, too, wresting control away from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, and taking its revenues. — Olivia Rinaldi, CBS News, 28 July 2026

French police rounded up thousands of Jews over two days in July 1942, wresting children from their mothers’ arms and dispatching everyone to Nazi death camps. — Los Angeles Times, 20 July 2026

The Smithsonian Institution, which oversees twenty-one museums, among other establishments, operates independently from the executive branch of the government, which makes wresting control over it more difficult. — News Desk, Artforum, 15 July 2026

In his first bout at 170 pounds, Makhachev cruised to a decision win over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in November 2025, easily wresting the UFC welterweight crown from Della Maddalena. — Trent Reinsmith, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026

But skeptics of Elliott’s plans say there is little precedent in the modern era of municipalities, or even states, wresting control from private for-profit utilities. — John Moritz, Hartford Courant, 20 June 2026

One can picture a similar relief for Veeze, wresting control from the internet, letting his unfazed facade crack even if for just a moment. — Matthew Ritchie, Pitchfork, 2 June 2026

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