as in pull
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force
had to give the shoe a good yank to get it off
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to jerk
to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion
she stupidly yanked the wheel while I was driving
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to pull
to draw out by force or with effort
yanked out a tooth with a pair of pliers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to grab
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
grab the other one, and let's see if we can't yank these two grocery carriages apart
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of yank
Brendan Marks, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Each blade has a pull tab at the top of its cartridge; just give it a gentle yank to remove it.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2025
David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
Trump has since yanked his endorsement of Hurd and threatened to follow suit against any Republican who voted to repeal tariffs.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for yank
Noun
Four yanks later, voila: Clayton had pulled free his prize, leaving just a single strand of nylon stuck in the Alamodome rim.
—Brendan Marks, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
Each blade has a pull tab at the top of its cartridge; just give it a gentle yank to remove it.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2025
Verb
Three varieties of cottage cheese sold under Walmart’s Great Value brand got yanked from stores in 24 states on potential pasteurization problems.
—David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2026
Trump has since yanked his endorsement of Hurd and threatened to follow suit against any Republican who voted to repeal tariffs.
—Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 24 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for yank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yank
Noun
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Crafted with a soft, weightless material in an easy pull-on design, the Elleven Linen Maxi Skirt offers a flexible, comfortable fit that moves with you.—
Julia Morlino,
Travel + Leisure,
13 Mar. 2026
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That’s even more so in television, where putting Michael Myers in an episodic setting just doesn’t have the same pull.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Don't jerk the steering wheel, as the overreaction can cause the vehicle to slide further or roll.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
7 Mar. 2026
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Giddey stopped, the ball cradled in his palm, shouting while jerking his hand in the rough direction of his intended pass.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Heo re-holstered his Taser, intending to apprehend Best by grabbing or tackling him, Prescott said.—
Kellie Love,
Hartford Courant,
9 Mar. 2026
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While the two men struggle with the jammed backdoor, Weisz’s character tosses them both a look before rushing toward the flames to grab her unfinished manuscript, written on legal pads, and dashing out of the cabin just in time.—
Meg Walters,
Glamour,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
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If a public request tugs at private feelings, pause to check your boundaries, then accept only what supports family rhythms and true priorities.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
7 Mar. 2026
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His latest work treasures motion in both its study of dance music that straddles the 20th and 21st centuries and its gentle tug away from pure pop.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Kearse twitched briefly after the lethal drugs began entering his system but stopped moving several minutes later.—
Freida Frisaro,
Sun Sentinel,
3 Mar. 2026
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Levy brought the dog in dead and claimed that that the dog had a seizure and was vomiting, choking and twitching before his death.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
27 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Carrel and company are all stellar and worth crowing about but plucking out a few side stories might well make this a smoother, more tonally consistent show.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
11 Mar. 2026
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When not plucking away at a keyboard, Madison teaches yoga and mountain bikes with her two Australian shepherds, Cholla and Poppy, through Missoula's Rattlesnake Wilderness.—
Madison Dapcevich,
Outside,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Human Rights Watch quoted one unnamed resident recalling how the explosion ripped both feet off a baby.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
11 Mar. 2026
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Teel ripped a pitch down the first-base line in the sixth inning.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Over the course of Mayor Brandon Johnson’s term, CPS has lurched from budget crisis to budget crisis, able only to muddle through due to record-breaking mayoral declarations of tax-increment-financing surpluses.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
11 Mar. 2026
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Elsewhere in town, the original creature, played by Christian Bale, has lurched here from Austria still on his lonely quest for companionship.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Yank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yank. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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