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
Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
On game night, Lavrenov was the one who threw elbows, threw down dunks and yanked down rebounds and threw outlet passes to start the fast break.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 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
Trump did not take kindly to those remarks, responding with threats in Davos before yanking the Board of Peace invitation.
—Steven Sloan, Chicago Tribune, 24 Jan. 2026
On game night, Lavrenov was the one who threw elbows, threw down dunks and yanked down rebounds and threw outlet passes to start the fast break.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 23 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for yank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yank
Noun
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These slim work pants with a pull-on waistband and front patch pockets are a stylish way to try the colorful trend.—
Jamie Allison Sanders,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Expectations are that Shelter will have a higher walk-in crowd compared to Iron Lung, whose pull is largely fan-driven.—
Andreas Wiseman,
Deadline,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Some signs that the carburetor is clogged on a snow blower are starting then dying a few seconds afterward, jerking, sputtering noises, and black smoke emitting from the exhaust.—
David Beaulieu,
The Spruce,
1 Feb. 2026
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The tear-jerking dramedy featured a breakthrough role for Emilia Jones, an Oscar-winning, scene-stealing turn by Troy Kotsur and a thoughtful narrative that took audiences into the personal lives of a deaf family with a single hearing member.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The bottom-line mandate for the Bruins on Monday night was to grab two points against the worst team in the Eastern Conference.—
Steve Conroy,
Boston Herald,
27 Jan. 2026
-
On January 13, in a win over the Chicago Bulls, Davison played 24 minutes, scoring 9 points, grabbing 7 rebounds, and dishing out 4 assists.—
Rahat Huq,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Even as home priorities tug, warmth and patience keep everyone on your side through this shift.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Available in eight shades, the lip liners are formulated with hyaluronic filling spheres for a tug-free glide, coconut and jojoba oil blend for lightweight nourishment, and carnauba and candelilla wax blend to help create precise, seamless lines.—
Kathryn Hopkins,
Footwear News,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The bonito’s body twitched until Yamasaki slid a thin metal wire down the column of its spinal cord, a second step called shinkei jime, which arrests its nervous system.—
Hannah Goldfield,
New Yorker,
19 Jan. 2026
-
Persistent muscle twitches Everyone’s muscles twitch from time to time, usually at various locations.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
15 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Guests are invited to become part of the journey — kneading bread, baking cookies, gathering fresh eggs, or plucking herbs for cocktails — while learning how regenerative farming nurtures both flavor and sustainability.—
Joanne Shurvell,
Forbes.com,
28 Jan. 2026
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Healthy cells that still have their MGMT gene intact will simply pluck the methyl group back off.—
Isabella Backman,
Hartford Courant,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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His tent is coming apart at the seams after a December snowstorm ripped through the fabric.—
Ginny Monk,
Hartford Courant,
27 Jan. 2026
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Classrooms were lost and routines were shattered when flames ripped through thousands of homes and buildings.—
Amanda Starrantino,
CBS News,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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When her car began to lurch forward, an agent near the front left-side of the SUV drew his gun and shot her at close range.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
14 Jan. 2026
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Natanya complicates her old-school character sketch with cerebral shifts in perspective, affecting each of the voices that accompany a young woman’s drive for success and independence (demanding friends and parents, sexist expectations, her own willpower) in a lurching cascade of melodies.—
H.D. Angel,
Pitchfork,
13 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Yank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yank. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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