wrenched; wrenching; wrenches
1
: to move with a violent twist
also
: to undergo twisting
2
: to pull or strain at something with violent twisting
1
: to twist violently
2
: to injure or disable by a violent twisting or straining
wrenched her back
4
a
: to pull or tighten by violent twisting or with violence
b
: to snatch forcibly : wrest
5
: to cause to suffer mental anguish : rack entry 2
1
a
: a violent twisting or a pull with or as if with twisting
b
: a sharp twist or sudden jerk straining muscles or ligaments
also
: the resultant injury (as of a joint)
c
: a distorting or perverting alteration
d
: acute emotional distress : sudden violent mental change
2
: a hand or power tool for holding, twisting, or turning an object (such as a bolt or nut)
Synonyms
Examples of wrench in a Sentence
Verb
I tried to wrench free from his grip.
I tried to wrench myself free from his grip.
He wrenched his back when he tried to lift a heavy box.
She wrenched the toy from his grasp.
The statue was wrenched from its pedestal.
Noun
It was a wrench to say goodbye to all my friends.
with a sharp wrench of the hammer I pulled the nail from the board
Recent Examples on the Web
Orval C. Johnson, Outdoor Life, 31 Oct. 2024
Doc Odd does a penknife incision to the man’s neck (hate this) and brings him down to the sick bay to insert a tracheal tube and physically wrench his sternoclavicular joint back into place, which the nurses find very risky.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
But Chandler's Deputy City Manager Andy Bass told the county on Monday that the city will not provide municipal utilities, like the water or sewer systems, for the project site ― something that could throw a wrench in Dominium's plans even with county approval.
—Sam Kmack, The Arizona Republic, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wrench 
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Verb
Next she was wrenched the other way in a sickening, 180° roll, and one of the crew members tumbled down the almost-vertical deck and vanished in the sea.
—Orval C. Johnson, Outdoor Life, 31 Oct. 2024
Doc Odd does a penknife incision to the man’s neck (hate this) and brings him down to the sick bay to insert a tracheal tube and physically wrench his sternoclavicular joint back into place, which the nurses find very risky.
—Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2024
Noun
But, the recent unseating of Gascón by Nathan Hochman in the Nov. 5 election could throw a wrench in this second possible avenue of relief for the brothers, as the hearing to consider the resentencing is scheduled for Dec. 11, days after Hochman will assume power.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2024
But Chandler's Deputy City Manager Andy Bass told the county on Monday that the city will not provide municipal utilities, like the water or sewer systems, for the project site ― something that could throw a wrench in Dominium's plans even with county approval.
—Sam Kmack, The Arizona Republic, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for wrench
Dictionary Entries Near wrench
Cite this Entry
“Wrench.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/wrench. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
wrench
2 of 2 noun1
a
: a violent twisting or pull
b
: a sharp twist or sudden jerk that strains muscles or ligaments
also
: the injury caused by this
2
: a tool for holding, twisting, or turning (as nuts and bolts)
Medical Definition
wrench
1 of 2 transitive verb
: to injure or disable by a violent twisting or straining
slipped and wrenched her back
wrench
2 of 2 noun
: a sharp twist or sudden jerk straining muscles or ligaments
also
: the resultant injury (as of a joint)
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