WRESTS Synonyms: 80 Similar and Opposite Words

wrests

verb

Definition of wrests next

present tense third-person singular of wrest

as in pulls

to draw out by force or with effort the boy wrested the book out of his sister's hands

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in extorts

to get (as money) by the use of force or threats vowed that the bully had wrested his lunch money from him for the last time

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in earns

to get with great difficulty farmers who were used to wresting a living from the harsh land

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in tugs

to move by or as if by a forceful rotation I need a strong arm to wrest the lid off this pickle jar

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in grabs

to separate or remove by forceful pulling wrested open the stuck door of the cabinet

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

reattaches

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 wrests Here, the director wrests a radioactive joy from observing Godard generate ideas with his ensemble, even as others pull their hair out around him. —

David Sims, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025 Seattle fans can already envision a future where a one-loss Seahawks team wrests control of the division away from Los Angeles in early November, but Tampa Bay has to be the first domino to fall. —

J.j. Bailey, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrests

Verb

But in Bait — where Ahmed pulls triple duty as creator, executive producer, and star — much of Shah’s story comes from specific aspects of Ahmed’s life, making the series perhaps his most personal project to date.

— CT Jones, Rolling Stone, 27 Mar. 2026
But what appears to be a dream opportunity unravels as JP pulls Tyler into a violent downward spiral.

— Matt Grobar, Deadline, 27 Mar. 2026