1
as in twist
a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something
with a sharp wrench of the hammer I pulled the nail from the board
Synonyms & Similar Words
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2
as in tug
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force
with one final hard wrench I was able to pull the cork from the bottle
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to pull
to move by or as if by a forceful rotation
with one last sharp yank, he wrenched the lid off the bottle of ketchup
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
3
as in to yank
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
wrenched the post out of the ground
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of wrench
USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2025
The administration’s pause on federal grants for water cuts, which have since been reinstated, threw a wrench into negotiations between seven Western states on how to divvy up a dwindling and overused Colorado River – negotiations managed by Reclamation with critical deadlines approaching.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025
Emily Steel, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2025
Aided by lifelong collector Reubens’ incomparable archive of still photographs and video footage, the portrait that emerges — sometimes humorously, sometimes sadly — is of a man fighting to reestablish control over his own story in the aftermath of the tabloid scandals that wrenched it away.
—Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wrench
Noun
Mercury retrograde throws a wrench in your routine.
—USA TODAY, 15 Mar. 2025
The administration’s pause on federal grants for water cuts, which have since been reinstated, threw a wrench into negotiations between seven Western states on how to divvy up a dwindling and overused Colorado River – negotiations managed by Reclamation with critical deadlines approaching.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025
Verb
Pilots wrenched the plane away from a potential collision before landing safely.
—Emily Steel, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2025
Aided by lifelong collector Reubens’ incomparable archive of still photographs and video footage, the portrait that emerges — sometimes humorously, sometimes sadly — is of a man fighting to reestablish control over his own story in the aftermath of the tabloid scandals that wrenched it away.
—Matt Brennan, Los Angeles Times, 24 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wrench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrench
Noun
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Watch Servant on Apple TV+ Mythic Quest Mythic Quest is a workplace comedy with a massive twist.—
Keith Langston,
People.com,
23 Mar. 2025
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Update: Republished on March 23 with a warning into a new text attack and a twist on this surging Chinese threat, with additional advice on how to stay safe.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Even so, Wilmore and Williams will face extensive rehabilitation over the next several weeks and months as their bodies re-adapt to the unfamiliar tug of gravity. Hague and Gorbunov, who spent spent 171 days in space, will re-adapt more quickly, perhaps, but both will require physical therapy.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
17 Mar. 2025
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The gravitational tug of neighboring galaxies compresses gas within a galaxy, triggering star formation.—
Samantha Mathewson,
Space.com,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Brands began to pull together resources to support refugees.—
Stephan Rabimov,
Forbes,
13 Feb. 2023
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The 13-minute performance will likely call for a healthy dose of vibrant, colored lighting to pull it all together.—
Kelly Allen,
House Beautiful,
10 Feb. 2023
Verb
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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
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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
Noun
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Dig in: The meal is $75 and includes dishes like jerk chicken with rice and peas and coconut collard greens, cow heel soup and crawfish hushpuppies.—
Chelsea Brasted,
Axios,
24 Mar. 2025
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The Lion’s Tail is a transitional drink that tastes like if a Jamaican jerk chicken and a Whiskey Sour couldn’t keep their hands off each other.—
Jeremy Repanich,
Robb Report,
11 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Since then, he’s torn his ACL and turned 27, while the Niners have actively shed salary by cutting ties with several veteran starters.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
19 Mar. 2025
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In January 2025, the Palisades and Eaton fires tore through Southern California, consuming thousands of homes and reducing neighborhoods and critical infrastructure to ashes.—
Trevor Riggen,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
Verb
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Perhaps Woodley and Bravo will cozy up in L.A. next, grab a burrito and head over to Leo Carrillo.—
Amy Hubbard,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Mar. 2025
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Urban Roots was the only California brewery to grab a spot on USA Today’s list of the best brewpubs in the United States.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
26 Mar. 2025
Verb
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And Fitzgerald provided the bulk of their offense from the nine-hole, ripping a two-run home run to left-center in the third inning and scoring the go-ahead run in the seventh on Grant McCray’s single up the middle.—
Evan Webeck,
Mercury News,
26 Mar. 2025
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The moral scaffolding that keeps us from giving in to our primal desires gets ripped away and, naturally, very rudimentary notions of decency fall apart.—
Daniel Fienberg,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wrench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrench. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.
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