pull 1 of 2

1
as in to haul
to cause to follow by applying steady force on a team of horses pulling a heavy wagon

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3
as in to stretch
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure lift the crate carefully, or you'll pull a muscle

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pull

2 of 2

noun

1
as in tug
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force I gave the door such a pull that when it suddenly opened, I nearly fell backwards

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
3

Example 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 pull
Verb
During the event, Riley wore black boots, a black dress, held a black and gold bag, and rocked a pair of massive gold hoops to pull it all together. Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023 As ghosts, fate and the sheer power of true love pull Nicholas and Isabel together, so too does life threaten to tear them apart. Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2023
Noun
But with interior options consisting of pick-and-pluck foam, or nothing at all, and with only two wheels dictating a single direction of pull, I wasn’t sold. Wes Siler, Outside Online, 26 Mar. 2025 The gravitational pull of the U.S. should not be dismissed; some countries will inevitably follow his lead. Justin Worland/bridgetown, TIME, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pull
Verb
  • This morning, a semi will haul his feed to a nearby grain elevator.
    Kirk Siegler, NPR, 14 Mar. 2025
  • Two of them grabbed him and hauled him outside.
    Graydon Carter, The Atlantic, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Dark hardwood floors stretch over to the formal dining area, which sits opposite the chef’s kitchen.
    Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Because your stomach stretches, moves, and flexes more than other areas, Ellis notes, navel piercings can be more prone to irritation than other piercings and can have a longer healing process.
    Marianne Mychaskiw, Allure, 9 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • For example, the sun’s gravity tugs harder on the moon than Earth’s does!
    Phil Plait, Scientific American, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Aviles was slapped with a red card after a tackle in the penalty area and a shirt tug that was deemed a denial of a scoring chance for New York.
    Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 23 Feb. 2025
Noun
  • That economic footprint is matched by political and organizational influence.
    Ronak D. Desai, Forbes.com, 31 Mar. 2025
  • When a 1999 Top 100 list by a gay and lesbian publishing group failed to include Patricia Nell-Warren’s 1974 novel The Front Runner, many readers loudly objected, noting its influence on their own coming-out journeys.
    Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 30 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Those who embrace these technologies now will likely find themselves with a considerable advantage in the increasingly competitive digital landscape.
    Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 8 Apr. 2025
  • And Osceola will continue to have homecourt advantage in the Finals against Stockton.
    Jason Beede, The Orlando Sentinel, 8 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The average is dragged lower by the three most recent economic contractions, which were all atypical.
    Bill Stone, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025
  • Watkins combines that with intelligent runs in behind, dragging defenders with him.
    Art de Roché, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Two nights after being yanked in the first period in Tampa Bay, Jarry again was pulled after allowing four goals, this time on 12 shots.
    Josh Yohe, New York Times, 28 Mar. 2025
  • President Donald Trump’s decision to yank the nomination of Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) to become U.S. ambassador to the United Nations is the latest sign Republicans have a special election problem.
    W. James Antle III, The Washington Examiner, 28 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Republicans at the Capitol understand this is going to hurt not just Americans, but their own political futures.
    Philip Elliott, Time, 3 Apr. 2025
  • Any player can get hurt, but two of the game’s best young players just made costly bets against themselves.
    Daniel R. Epstein, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Pull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pull. Accessed 17 Apr. 2025.

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