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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of yank
Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
Now the big question is whether all the regulators pulling on the buckles and loops of Boeing’s straitjacket, with a potential yank from Justice to come, will seriously delay what looked like the start of strong comeback.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024
Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025
That yanked the index that's at the center of many 401(k) accounts 16% below its record set two months ago.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for yank
Noun
Only the snarl of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 will give away that this wagon’s packing 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of yank.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
Now the big question is whether all the regulators pulling on the buckles and loops of Boeing’s straitjacket, with a potential yank from Justice to come, will seriously delay what looked like the start of strong comeback.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024
Verb
With one out and the Tigers’ Javier Báez on first base, Kerry Carpenter yanked a high popup down the right field line.
—Kevin Acee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Apr. 2025
That yanked the index that's at the center of many 401(k) accounts 16% below its record set two months ago.
—Arkansas Online, 21 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for yank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yank
Noun
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Laura arrives there to rebuild her life, but the irresistible pull of quick money and crime immediately draws her back into a troubled past.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
1 May 2025
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Liman complained that the rug pull left people without compensation, though it was reported that Liman was offered a higher budget in exchange for making the film for streaming.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
30 Apr. 2025
Verb
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As soon as Tatiana Pino turned her dark blue Land Rover Defender into her long asphalt driveway, the flatbed truck jerked into reverse and slammed into the passenger side of her SUV, according to footage of the Aug. 30, 2023, hit-and-run obtained by the Herald.—
Jay Weaver,
Miami Herald,
27 Feb. 2025
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This apparently spooked an SUV driver in the next lane, who jerked the wheel to the left and ran into the opposite curb.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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The game ended appropriately with Minnesota’s Naz Reid grabbing an offensive rebound off a Timberwolves missed free throw attempt and hugging the ball like Minnesota hugged this victory.—
Bill Plaschke,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2025
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Decker was walking and pushing his bike when Nelson grabbed his backpack and attempted to detain him.—
Alex Brizee,
Idaho Statesman,
1 May 2025
Noun
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Duke of Cornwall) watched a team building exercise — tug of war! — and met with young farmers making up the next generation.—
Janine Henni,
People.com,
26 Mar. 2025
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There’s a kind of implicit prayer in this that the withering of today’s Hollywood system is a presage for something better, giving the entire production a painful, nostalgic quality that tugs at your chest even as what unfolds before you is remarkably dumb.—
Nicholas Quah,
Vulture,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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If their tail starts twitching or their ears are flattened, then they may be overstimulated, which can lead to aggression.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Apr. 2025
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Real Estate As Ballast Against Market Turbulence Why does Manhattan real estate hold up while other assets twitch?—
Spencer Elliott,
Forbes.com,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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To a visitor’s eye, the light switch is nowhere to be found—that is, until a tintype photograph is plucked from a ledge near the front door to reveal a white plastic switch plate.—
Shoko Wanger,
Architectural Digest,
1 May 2025
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More than 260 Southern California steelhead trout were plucked from their stream in the Palisades fire burn scar and moved to a different area, saving them from lethal debris flows.—
Lila Seidman,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Apr. 2025
Verb
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There's More to That A Smithsonian magazine special report After multiple wildfires ripped through greater Los Angeles earlier this year, Californians were left to rebuild communities and grapple with the loss of life, nature and property.—
Ari Daniel,
Smithsonian Magazine,
1 May 2025
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After the draft, Beane went on offense by ripping critics who thought Buffalo should have done more to address the receiver position (the team waited until the seventh round to select one and later signed Elijah Moore).—
Mike Sando,
New York Times,
1 May 2025
Verb
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Many young people then in high school may not have lost so much faith in institutions; some may not have lurched so dramatically to the political right.—
Jessica Winter,
New Yorker,
30 Apr. 2025
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His unsteady performance has left markets lurching from one crisis to another, and his contempt for tradition continues to rattle both Washington institutionalists and Wall Street investors.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
30 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Yank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yank. Accessed 6 May. 2025.
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