as in pull
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force
had to give the shoe a good yank to get it off
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to jerk
to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion
she stupidly yanked the wheel while I was driving
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to pull
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 to grab
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of yank
Stephen Pyne, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
Only the snarl of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 will give away that this wagon’s packing 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of yank.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 16 July 2025
Why start that PhD if their funding is going to get yanked away?
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for yank
Noun
With tugs and yanks and positive feedback, a planetary makeover began that is rampant today.
—Stephen Pyne, Scientific American, 16 Apr. 2024
Only the snarl of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 will give away that this wagon’s packing 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of yank.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
Verb
The Transportation Security Administration has decided that air travelers no longer have to yank off their shoes before going through preflight security screening.
—Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 16 July 2025
Why start that PhD if their funding is going to get yanked away?
—Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for yank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yank
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
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Having already had to navigate a 180-degree turn around a roundabout at 80km per hour, the road jerked to the left with around 1.6km remaining and, with some riders forced wide, the group was split.—
Jacob Whitehead,
New York Times,
12 July 2025
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The passenger jerked forward and their belongings were thrown to the floor.—
Abhirup Roy,
USA Today,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
Leave your troubles behind and grab a lime, because Thursday is National Tequila Day.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
25 July 2025
-
Concerned, the roommates grabbed golf clubs from one of the first-floor bedrooms and checked the house for a possible intruder.—
Christopher Cann,
USA Today,
24 July 2025
Noun
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Their ordeal tugs at every family that ever dropped a kiddo off with bug spray, stamped envelopes and hope.—
Bill Weir,
CNN Money,
14 July 2025
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The tug of war over deportations reflects a broader shift in U.S. immigration policy, where enforcement is increasingly intersecting with international diplomacy.—
Antonio Maria Delgado
July 11,
Miami Herald,
11 July 2025
Verb
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Buzzing, tingling, burning, twitching, itching or pain, along with a sensation of arousal.—
Linda Carroll,
NBC news,
6 July 2025
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The fearful pup stepped out to greet her, his tail twitching—his first show of trust in a long time.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 July 2025
Verb
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The app uses a smartphone microphone to pick up the frequency of the belt as it's plucked like a guitar string.—
Eric Bangeman,
ArsTechnica,
25 July 2025
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Versant will be led by CEO Mark Lazarus, chief financial officer and chief operating officer Anand Kini, and chairman David Novak; other senior executives will be plucked from the ranks of NBCUniversal. Cable channel E!—
Tony Maglio,
HollywoodReporter,
24 July 2025
Verb
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On July 21, Colbert ripped Paramount and Trump in his opening monologue.—
Bill Goodykoontz,
AZCentral.com,
24 July 2025
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During the game, Jason ripped his shirt off in the private box, let out a yell and jumped into the stands as the crowd cheered.—
Rachel McRady,
People.com,
23 July 2025
Verb
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But that’s not enough opposition to stop CPS from lurching substantially further toward insolvency if Harden and interim school Superintendent Macquline King choose that route.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
25 July 2025
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Like Germany after the defeat of Hitler, Argentina lurched back and forth between judging its past crimes and trying to move beyond them.—
Julia M. Klein,
The Atlantic,
11 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Yank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yank. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
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