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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
2
as in to struggle
to devote serious and sustained effort
she's tugged all her life to get to where she is now in the business world
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of tug
Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025
Closing my eyes, I was flooded with the familiar warmth and the accompanying tug of distraction.
—Literary Hub, 20 June 2025
Ethan Wolin
updated July 4, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2025
Tesla tugged on the market as the relationship between its chief executive, Elon Musk, and President Trump soured even further.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tug
Noun
Aim to finish with a clear success - whether that's catching the toy or winning a tug game.
—Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 July 2025
Closing my eyes, I was flooded with the familiar warmth and the accompanying tug of distraction.
—Literary Hub, 20 June 2025
Verb
Unable to transfer the 10 passengers to the rescue boat, the police officers began to tug the MasterCraft toward Keys Marina.
—Ethan Wolin
updated July 4, Sacbee.com, 4 July 2025
Tesla tugged on the market as the relationship between its chief executive, Elon Musk, and President Trump soured even further.
—Stan Choe, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for tug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tug
Noun
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Plus, melted provolone is delightfully stretchy, which guarantees a mouth-watering cheese pull.—
Robin Miller,
AZCentral.com,
25 July 2025
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Since the exoplanet doesn't transit, or pass in front of, its host star from our perspective, astronomers spotted it by tracking subtle shifts in the star's motion that are caused by the planet's gravitational pull.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
The Dane hauled his way up the mountain, mouth contorted, back and elbows askew, willing his bike to chase.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
26 July 2025
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Six hours later, Kim and David watched their prize hauled tail-first to the crossbeam of the scales back at Darenberg’s dock in Montauk.—
Pat Smith,
Outdoor Life,
24 July 2025
Verb
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But AmeriCorps officials have struggled in recent years to provide financial information to auditors and have acknowledged the need for reforms.—
Dan Horn,
The Enquirer,
23 July 2025
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The party of the president usually struggles in a midterm election like next year's race to replace Peters.—
M.L. Elrick,
Freep.com,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
Running on a level surface (in supportive shoes—see above!) can serve as plenty a cardio workout without the extra yank on your plantar fascia.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
20 June 2025
-
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
Verb
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Pitmaster Roy Perez ceremoniously dragged a metal tub of hot coals up Commerce Street to transfer the fire from the old pits to the new ones.—
Robert F. Moss,
Southern Living,
23 July 2025
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Charlie's sudden, grotesque exit becomes the catalyst for the rest of the film, dragging her family down a relentless tailspin of grief (and ancestral demons).—
James Mercadante,
EW.com,
23 July 2025
Verb
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My breathing was labored—short and ragged inhales, long faint exhales.—
Amie Barrodale,
Harpers Magazine,
16 July 2025
-
Nobody knows what to expect from Waller, but the same can, and should be said about this Dolphins team, which has labored all offseason to course correct the team’s culture.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
10 July 2025
Noun
-
No, the worst Christopher Reeve Superman film is not the embarrassing Cannon Films installment but rather the one featuring a world-class comedian, a woman turning into a computer, and a terrific junkyard battle between Clark Kent and his belligerent jerk doppelganger.—
Rory Doherty,
Vulture,
11 July 2025
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Midtown Global Market’s Irie Jamaican serves oxtail (jerk or barbecue) with festival (a sweet, fried bread); sweet plantains; coconut shrimp skewers; and a ginger and hibiscus drink.—
Jess Fleming,
Twin Cities,
9 July 2025
Verb
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Even though her husband and her eldest son will one day be king, Princess Kate has strived to maintain a sense of normalcy at home.—
Meredith Kile,
People.com,
22 July 2025
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These dishes have to be perfect, even in their simplicity, and there’s something exciting about striving for that.—
David Hochman,
Forbes.com,
20 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Tug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tug. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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