YANKED Synonyms: 60 Similar and Opposite Words

yanked

verb

past tense of yank

as in jerked

to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion she stupidly yanked the wheel while I was driving

Synonyms & Similar Words

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as in pulled

to draw out by force or with effort yanked out a tooth with a pair of pliers

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in grabbed

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

reattached

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 yanked The district secured $150 million in federal funding to fix the issue, but it was yanked back as part of cost-cutting efforts in 2025, then recently re-instated this year. — Alex Harris, Miami Herald, 27 Oct. 2026 With the wheels threatening to come off, Rays manager Kevin Cash yanked Seymour and put in Kevin Kelly. — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 20 Oct. 2026 Wi-Fi is not free on those services; T-Mobile used to comp at least an hour of connectivity for subscribers, but quietly yanked that benefit in April. — Rob Pegoraro, PC Magazine, 15 Oct. 2026 The force of my fall on the rope yanked her upward and slammed her against the rock. — Daniel Duane, New York Times, 14 Oct. 2026 Every belt buckle looks freshly yanked off the rack; every speck of signage resembles something painted 45 minutes before filming commenced that day. — Michael Phillips, Variety, 8 Oct. 2026 After Lopez says something to the officers, he is yanked to the ground and punched repeatedly. — Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2026 Although nine episodes were filmed, only two aired before A&E yanked the controversial and critically panned series, WXIX reported at the time. — Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 1 Oct. 2026 Two months later, Jimmy Kimmel Live was briefly yanked from the air over comments that host Jimmy Kimmel made about the killing of Charlie Kirk. — Savannah Walsh, Vanity Fair, 30 Sep. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for yanked

Verb

During the test, Linton jerked and twitched in what prosecutors described as an attempt to fake a seizure.

— James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026
Somewhere nearby, in a dark office, an eavesdropping oreja has just jerked to attention on his hard little chair.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of jerked

Verb

Ivan Fedorov, co-chair of the regional defense council, said 12 bodies pulled from the rubble had been identified so far.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 5 Nov. 2026
Someone got out of the front passenger seat of the car, walked around the back of the vehicle, pulled a gun out of the pocket of his hoodie, and fired four shots into the front driver's side window.

— Todd Feurer, CBS News, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of pulled

Verb

And when Buzelis grabbed that pass out of the air, double-clutching on his way to a dunk, the Bulls could hear for a moment the tune of a new future for this team.

— Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 29 Oct. 2026
Woodman also alleged that Andreatta grabbed Pagano’s hand and wrist.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of grabbed

Verb

The insurrection drew immediate and obvious parallels to the United States, which, during much of the past decade, has lurched alongside Brazil through a strange hall of mirrors.

— Ishaan Tharoor, New Yorker, 21 Oct. 2026
And there was a frenzy as one man, grimacing and sweating, lurched along pulling a truck with a rope.

— ABC News, ABC News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of lurched

Verb

Old walls that once separated the exam rooms have been ripped down, leaving a large open space.

— Noelle Alviz-Gransee Updated November 2, Kansas City Star, 2 Nov. 2026
Roughly two months after fire ripped through Newhall’s historic downtown, four people are under arrest, accused of arson and conspiracy in the devastating blaze.

— Iris Kwok, Los Angeles Times, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of ripped

Verb

Initial results indicate that the method can separate metal chlorides from magnet material more efficiently, allowing nearly all the metals to be extracted while using comparatively small amounts of chemicals.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 3 Nov. 2026
Kay’s latest appeal says his trial lawyer pressured him to reject a plea deal carrying five to 10 years and questions testimony about who extracted data from Skaggs’ phone.

— Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of extracted

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“Yanked.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yanked. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of yanked

verb

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