as in agonizing
intensely or unbearably painful
forced to make the emotionally wrenching decision to place her mother in a nursing home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in twisting
a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something
after a lot of wrenching and tugging, the plumber managed to pull the stubborn pipe free
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in pulling
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
as in damaging
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure
wrenched her shoulder by all of that heavy lifting
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in tearing
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
wrenched the post out of the ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of wrenching
EW.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Portraying John Norman Howard in the heart-wrenching 1976 romantic drama opposite Streisand’s Esther Hoffman led him to a Golden Globe win for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy the following year.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2024
Continuing along the current path is a sure recipe for economic disaster, and the government will almost certainly have to restructure its debt and begin wrenching reforms.
—Michael Shifter, Foreign Affairs, 10 Mar. 2016
Verb
In a gut-wrenching scene that drew criticism after the film's premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, The Apprentice depicts the future president raping his wife.
—EW.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Portraying John Norman Howard in the heart-wrenching 1976 romantic drama opposite Streisand’s Esther Hoffman led him to a Golden Globe win for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy the following year.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2024
Continuing along the current path is a sure recipe for economic disaster, and the government will almost certainly have to restructure its debt and begin wrenching reforms.
—Michael Shifter, Foreign Affairs, 10 Mar. 2016
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrenching
Adjective
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These decisions are already inherently agonizing in and of themselves, only to be compounded by the uncertainty of what will and will not be covered by insurance.Renee Hsia, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
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Navigating long-term health care for older adults is an agonizing challenge faced by millions of people across the U.S.Lauren J. Young, Scientific American, 29 Oct. 2024
Verb
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As for the ocean capacity limitations assisting in the growth of air bookings, cargo-carrying vessels throughout the late summer cramped up amid a flurry of factors including the ongoing avoidance of the Red Sea, ensuing port congestion and a pulling forward of the peak shipping season.Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 4 Oct. 2024
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When the night’s at its blackest, this is for those who are holding the light, guiding the lost and pulling us through.Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
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She was limited to buying boys’ basketball shoes as a high schooler in the 2010s before tearing her ACL.Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 2 Oct. 2024
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Ten months after tearing his right knee’s anterior cruciate ligament, Hufanga made his season debut last Sunday, recording seven tackles and playing 53-of-58 defensive snaps in a 27-24 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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According to the political scientist Pierre Englebert, the Congolese government and people lose as much as $4 billion in revenue every year due to state agents’ manipulation of mining contracts and payments, torturous budget practices, and outright theft.Stephen R. Weissman, Foreign Affairs, 8 June 2015
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The right boots, however, can make previously torturous bell-to-bell days no big deal.Drew Zieff, Outside Online, 9 Oct. 2024
Noun
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In this polarizing election climate, watch for the four biases that Harris will most likely face as the first woman of color to run for president in the U.S.: the tightrope, maternal wall, prove it again and tug of war biases.Julie Kratz, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
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Kneeling before me, a genderless cutie in a leather dog mask begs for another round of rope tug.Bae Leche, refinery29.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Marking its 70th anniversary in 2023, Buchinger Wilhelmi in Überlingen, Germany, was the brainchild of a clean-living German naval doctor, Otto Buchinger (1878-1966), whose career was cut short by excruciating rheumatism.Bill Prince, theweek, 7 Nov. 2024
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Helene's toll: Hurricane among the deadliest since 1950 The cost in dollars: Hurricane season will cost over $100B Women online are warning each other about painful procedures Kerry Schwartz suffered excruciating pain during a gynecological biopsy to have a fibroid removed.John Riley, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024
Noun
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But what begins as a simple heist quickly spirals into a chaotic adventure filled with unexpected twists and comedic mishaps.Patrick Frater, Variety, 4 Nov. 2024
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The world’s only fully underground zip line course located inside the Mega Cavern, 1841 Taylor Ave., is a series of six ziplines and two challenge bridges combined with a thrilling glow-in-the-dark twist that transforms the caverns into a vibrant spectacle of color, light, and music.The Courier-Journal, The Courier-Journal, 4 Nov. 2024
Verb
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Wildfires are typically regarded as a summer event, ripping through forests and homes in the hotter months.Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
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Find out more tips, plus recommendations for tights that are less prone to ripping.Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 11 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near wrenching
Cite this Entry
“Wrenching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrenching. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.
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