WRESTS Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

wrests

verb

present tense third-person singular of wrest

as in pulls

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

as in extorts

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

as in earns

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in tugs

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

as in grabs

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reattaches

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 wrests If New England somehow wrests the divison away from Buffalo, Vrabel gets serious consideration. — Darren Cooper, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026 Like everything else that works here, Brie’s performance wrests the last scraps of freshness from a mode of filmmaking this movie knows is played out, but doesn’t have the particular strength to reinvent. — David Ehrlich, IndieWire, 2 June 2026 Here, the director wrests a radioactive joy from observing Godard generate ideas with his ensemble, even as others pull their hair out around him. — David Sims, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025 Seattle fans can already envision a future where a one-loss Seahawks team wrests control of the division away from Los Angeles in early November, but Tampa Bay has to be the first domino to fall. — J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrests

Verb

Rising air pulls powerful winds toward the fire, while downdrafts punch gusts back to the surface.

— Thomas Adamson, Los Angeles Times, 29 July 2026
The kitchen has a glossy black island that pulls double duty as a casual dining spot; there’s also a formal dining room.

— Tori Latham, Robb Report, 29 July 2026

Definition of pulls

Verb

That not only squeezes consumers' budgets, but also hits businesses hard, especially those which are heavily dependent on fuel.

— ABC News, ABC News, 23 July 2026
That not only squeezes consumers’ budgets, but also hits businesses hard, especially those that are heavily dependent on fuel.

— Matt Ott, Los Angeles Times, 23 July 2026

Definition of squeezes

Verb

The track nearly earns BTS its ninth champion on the worldwide roster, but the South Korean superstars are blocked by Shakira and Burna Boy.

— Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026
His salary has risen over time, so with the fulfilment of various bonuses — such as winning FIFA’s The Best award in 2024 — Vinicius Jr earns around €18m net per season.

— James McNicholas, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026

Definition of earns

Verb

But the star is also a beloved actress doing great work in a movie that tugs on the heartstrings.

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 30 July 2026
Just across the state line, Alabama’s DeSoto State Park and Little River Canyon are also wonderful for stunning views, hikes and whatever else tugs your trotline.

— Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 15 May 2026

Definition of tugs

Verb

There are swooping close encounters with heavenly bodies, Lego blocks in antigravity mode and swarms of Separators, a sort of astro-anthropomorphic version of the tool that pries apart Lego bricks in real life.

— Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2026
The show’s biggest laugh may come when Testa pries open Costanzo’s mouth and pronounces just how many performances of Norma Galas has left.

— Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 19 Sep. 2025

Definition of pries

Verb

Unfortunately, the underwhelming revelations don’t elicit the tears Kore-eda regularly wrings.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 July 2026
The perennial funnyman suffered an immense tragedy earlier this year with the loss of his daughter, Katherine, yet still wrings laughs out of flamboyant director Oliver Putnam on Only Murders in the Building five seasons in.

— Rebecca Ford, Vanity Fair, 25 June 2026

Definition of wrings

Verb

His torso and thighs grow eye-poppingly muscular beneath their skimpy fur-and-leather togs—a development that does not go unnoticed by a warrior named Red Hair, who plucks the young hunk from his post and tosses him into the prime time of the gladiator pit.

— Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 15 June 2026
But the emotional gravity of this offering's deeply personal, melancholic lyrical content plucks an undeniably profound chord that uniquely separates it from the rest of his work.

— Chris Barilla, PEOPLE, 29 May 2026