1
as in jerking
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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2
as in pulling
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 grabbing
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 yanking
The yellow bucket of a heavy construction excavator crashed down onto the roof of the vacant home at Parade Park, yanking it into a heap of split plaster and lumber.
—
Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026
But after the first attempt malfunctioned — the lace caught on the bottom of Buckley's bouquet, resulting in the veil accidentally yanking her head back — everyone is now on high alert.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Feb. 2026
Both Blazy and Anderson, millennials with big brains, are yanking the fusty business of extraordinary clothes into the present – the former with a swell of empathy, and the other with a cerebral but intimate approach.
—CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
To be fair, Milhoan didn’t endorse yanking the polio vaccine from the CDC’s childhood-immunization schedule, as other vaccines were earlier this month.
—Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
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
Discouraged home sellers are yanking the for-sale signs out of their front yards.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 22 Jan. 2026
Armed and masked law enforcement officers are being witnessed smashing car windows, yanking people from vehicles and chasing and wrestling others to the ground and hauling them away — images playing out in endless loops on TVs and other screens.
—Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Multiple videos show agents firing pepper spray from their vehicles, throwing protesters to the ground and yanking people out of cars.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026
Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 4 Feb. 2026
But after the first attempt malfunctioned — the lace caught on the bottom of Buckley's bouquet, resulting in the veil accidentally yanking her head back — everyone is now on high alert.
—Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Feb. 2026
Both Blazy and Anderson, millennials with big brains, are yanking the fusty business of extraordinary clothes into the present – the former with a swell of empathy, and the other with a cerebral but intimate approach.
—CNN Money, 30 Jan. 2026
To be fair, Milhoan didn’t endorse yanking the polio vaccine from the CDC’s childhood-immunization schedule, as other vaccines were earlier this month.
—Tom Bartlett, The Atlantic, 28 Jan. 2026
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
Discouraged home sellers are yanking the for-sale signs out of their front yards.
—Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 22 Jan. 2026
Armed and masked law enforcement officers are being witnessed smashing car windows, yanking people from vehicles and chasing and wrestling others to the ground and hauling them away — images playing out in endless loops on TVs and other screens.
—Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Multiple videos show agents firing pepper spray from their vehicles, throwing protesters to the ground and yanking people out of cars.
—Christopher Cann, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yanking
Verb
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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
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That jerking motion, combined with detergent and water, loosens dirt from the surfaces of clothing.—
Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott,
Southern Living,
27 Dec. 2025
Verb
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At a union hall in San Diego last November, Gavin Newsom—the tall, coiffed governor of California, and, since last year, one of the Democrats’ best hopes for pulling together a shattered country—stood to one side in white shirtsleeves and waited for his turn to address the crowd.—
Nathan Heller,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
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Wagner wasn’t as fortunate with his 7-iron shot, pulling it left into the rough (and scuffing the bottom of his club).—
Jay Posner,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Thomas then appeared to quickly lunge at Leon, swiftly grabbing and lifting him up before body slamming the suspect to the ground.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
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SpaceX was also famously involved in funding and operating the headline-grabbing Polaris Dawn crewed commercial mission in September 2024.—
Eric Lagatta,
AZCentral.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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But the Missouri was always a wild river twitching its bed from side to side across its flood plain.—
Edward Lotterman,
Twin Cities,
1 Feb. 2026
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Harnessing the camp of countless Drag Race acting challenges that came before her, Jujubee films a close-up reaction to a group of rowdy passengers reprimanding her, escalating the moment until her face is full-on twitching before a physical confrontation.—
Jillian Sederholm,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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While Jones could be a potential asset still in play, the Bulls’ interest in maintaining a larger presence due to the recent success of two-big lineups could dissuade any deals from prying the center away from the Bulls.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
30 Jan. 2026
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And rather than Christians leavening the secular right-wing movements, those movements are prying Christianity further and further away from the ethic and teachings of Jesus.—
Peter Wehner,
The Atlantic,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Star guard Kyrie Irving hasn't played all season after tearing an ACL last March.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
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Star guard Kyrie Irving hasn’t played all season after tearing an ACL last March.—
Schuyler Dixon,
Twin Cities,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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This could get strange, with punk, metal, pop, and rock factions tugging in multiple directions.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
30 Jan. 2026
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To keep little ones comfortable—and prevent them from tugging on the wires or moving too much—researchers had babies sit on a parent’s lap and provided toys to keep their hands busy.—
Clarissa Brincat,
Parents,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Strip off the hard outer skin and chew the woody pith, extracting its sweetness before spitting it out.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
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Clough had a knack of reviving the fortunes of waifs and strays; of extracting every ounce of talent from players.—
Paul Taylor,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Yanking.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yanking. Accessed 5 Feb. 2026.
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