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
Gary Drenik, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Although some of the girls attempted to rig the drawing, Teen Shauna (Sophie Nélisse) throws a wrench in their plan, which ends up making Mari (Alexa Barajas) their prey.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2025
Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 30 Dec. 2024
Pilots wrenched the plane away from a potential collision before landing safely.
—Emily Steel, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wrench
Noun
This throws a wrench into data privacy operations and processes.
—Gary Drenik, Forbes.com, 15 Apr. 2025
Although some of the girls attempted to rig the drawing, Teen Shauna (Sophie Nélisse) throws a wrench in their plan, which ends up making Mari (Alexa Barajas) their prey.
—Glenn Garner, Deadline, 11 Apr. 2025
Verb
Its story is very good – an emotional, gut wrenching exploration of grief and humanity — and Nyong’o is at her absolute best.
—Kathleen Newman-Bremang, refinery29.com, 30 Dec. 2024
Pilots wrenched the plane away from a potential collision before landing safely.
—Emily Steel, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for wrench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrench
Noun
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The final decisive twist in this most enthralling of promotion races?—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Worries about a recession have certainly been on the boil following President Donald Trump’s tariffs blitz, which seems to take a new twist every day.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
17 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
Verb
-
Brands began to pull together resources to support refugees.—
Stephan Rabimov,
Forbes,
13 Feb. 2023
-
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
-
Kelly, the lifeguard, jumped off her perch and yanked Harel back, toward the lockers, by the hair.—
Adam Levin,
New Yorker,
13 Apr. 2025
-
And when he’s actually pulled away and thrown into the back of a cab, Kilmer’s exit is as unceremonious as a cable yanked out from an amp, leaving viewers drifting along the film’s woozy currents.—
Beatrice Loayza,
The Atlantic,
8 Apr. 2025
Noun
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But this Ron Howard was an alternate universe version of Ron Howard, who instead of being notoriously nice, is sort of a jerk.—
Esther Zuckerman,
Los Angeles Times,
2 Apr. 2025
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Someone actually just said to me that all the men in the book are jerks.—
Gal Beckerman,
The Atlantic,
7 Mar. 2025
Verb
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With the Rays playing their 2025 home slate at the open-air Steinbrenner Field, after Hurricane Milton tore the roof off their own Tropicana Field in October, weather will now be a factor in everything from concessions to groundskeeping in a way the team has never managed before.—
Jason Clinkscales,
Sportico.com,
9 Apr. 2025
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Hill is currently healing from tearing a ligament in his wrist in the 2024 season, but all signs are pointing to the star receiver remaining with the Dolphins at least through the 2025 season.—
Raja Krishnamoorthi,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Antetokounmpo finished the game by scoring 36 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and blocking two shots.—
Nicholas Creel,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Apr. 2025
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Metcalf grabbed Anthony and again told him to get from under the team’s tent, then Anthony pulled out a knife and stabbed Metcalf once in the chest before running away, the witness said.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The bomb explodes at 9:02 a.m., ripping to ruins the nine-story structure.—
Todd Pendleton,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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The thought of being ripped from her home, without time to pack up her belongings or say goodbye to friends, shakes her to the core.—
Rebecca Plevin,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Wrench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrench. Accessed 27 Apr. 2025.
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