tug 1 of 2

as in pull
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force gave the man in front a tug on his shirtsleeve as a sign that he was supposed to step aside

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tug

2 of 2

verb

Examples 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 tug
Noun
The bottom line: Impulse is working on two different OTVs, which basically serve as space tugs — moving launched satellites into specific positions. Dan Primack, Axios, 2 Oct. 2024 In this polarizing election climate, watch for the four biases that Harris will most likely face as the first woman of color to run for president in the U.S.: the tightrope, maternal wall, prove it again and tug of war biases. Julie Kratz, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
Verb
In many ways, this season feels like more of a direct sequel to Season 1, as several loose ends from the first murder mystery have been tugged back to the fore by our intrepid investigators—and their celebrity sidekicks. Erik Kain, Forbes, 15 Oct. 2024 Jason Segel is tugging on the heartstrings in this ultimate daddy-daughter moment. Esther Kang, People.com, 15 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for tug 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tug
Noun
  • Lake’s relatively weak pull with Trump voters in Arizona stands out compared to his two prior presidential runs.
    Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 7 Nov. 2024
  • That pull of the past becomes overwhelming in the Peruvian jungle, Paddington is able to trace his roots for the first time.
    Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • The weapons were placed in a moving van and hauled away.
    Lauren De Young, The Arizona Republic, 20 Nov. 2024
  • The fleet’s name comes from the silver coins the ships were hauling, called plata.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Historians are struggling to recover their inexpressible secrets.
    Erin Maglaque, The New York Review of Books, 15 Nov. 2024
  • Thus, consumption of THCV can be beneficial for those who struggle with weight gain and/or food craving.
    Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 15 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • The resulting specs: 434 ponies and 525 lb-ft of yank.
    Sean Evans, Robb Report, 30 Oct. 2024
  • With tugs and yanks and positive feedback, a planetary makeover began that is rampant today.
    Stephen Pyne, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
Verb
  • The longer the war in Ukraine drags on, the more the cost of deterring China goes up.
    Kori Schake, Foreign Affairs, 8 Nov. 2024
  • The ability to drag fringe ideas and theories into mainstream political discourse has long been a hallmark of X, even back when it was known as Twitter.
    Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Doctors are known for laboring under brutal schedules but a new generation wants more of a work-life balance.
    Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 4 Nov. 2024
  • In Game 3, Freeman had a fifth-inning single but was removed in the eighth while laboring at the plate.
    Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 22 Oct. 2024
Noun
  • Jeff Goldblum plays the Wizard of Oz, a lanky charmer who might be a jerk at best and a puppet of fascists at worst.
    Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 20 Nov. 2024
  • Johnson stars as Callum Drift, head of security for St. Nicholas (J.K. Simmons), and the beefy bodyguard is retiring after 540 years on the job because, well, people turn into jerks at Christmas.
    Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • Always strive to be transparent with your communications.
    Cory McNeley, Forbes, 5 Nov. 2024
  • Charlie Dennis is writer-director from the West Midlands in the United Kingdom, who strives to improve accessibility within film and TV aims to ensure that even the most exciting stories stay profoundly human.
    Angelique Jackson, Variety, 1 Nov. 2024

Thesaurus Entries Near tug

Cite this Entry

“Tug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tug. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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