as in pull
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force
had to give the shoe a good yank to get it off
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to jerk
to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion
she stupidly yanked the wheel while I was driving
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to pull
to draw out by force or with effort
yanked out a tooth with a pair of pliers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to grab
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
grab the other one, and let's see if we can't yank these two grocery carriages apart
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of yank
Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 4 May 2023
Happy to help, Marsh popped over, entered the combination and gave it a good yank — success.
—Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 4 May 2023
Judith Kohler, The Denver Post, 24 Dec. 2024
Meanwhile, GoFundMe is yanking any and all campaigns supporting Mangione, but donations for his defense continue to pour in on other online platforms.
—Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 15 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for yank 
Noun
Her teacher promptly pulled her back into line with a yank whose mildness astonished me.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 4 May 2023
Happy to help, Marsh popped over, entered the combination and gave it a good yank — success.
—Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 4 May 2023
Verb
Listen to this article Four Denver-area liquor stores say the state is illegally issuing too many liquor licenses to large, out-of-state grocery and big-box stores and are suing in an effort to have those licenses yanked.
—Judith Kohler, The Denver Post, 24 Dec. 2024
Meanwhile, GoFundMe is yanking any and all campaigns supporting Mangione, but donations for his defense continue to pour in on other online platforms.
—Compiled By Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 15 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for yank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yank
Noun
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For decades, China’s massive size and growth created a sort of gravitational pull.Elizabeth Economy, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2025
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Imagine the chaos of trying to replicate the cultural pull of something like @EmilyMariko’s viral salmon bowl tutorial on platforms less conducive to serendipitous discovery.Shira Jeczmien, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Previously the two were able to disable brakes, honk the horn, jerk the seat belt, and control the steering wheel using a laptop in the back of both a Toyota Prius and Ford Escape.David Faris, Newsweek, 28 Dec. 2024
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Dad nodded his approval again and the kid did as instructed, reflexively jerking his hand away as the starter began to churn the 117-cubic inch motor.William Roberson, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
Verb
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So grab your favorite streaming device, line up some snacks, and let the enchantment unfold.Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
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Fans eager to play the game as Ice Spice can grab her Fortnite skins in the Item Shop.Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
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The big planets can shift Earth’s orbit slightly, and how our planet reacts to this interplanetary tug can set new temperature patterns in motion.Longreads, Longreads, 18 Dec. 2024
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The tugs will deliver the ship to the docks of Modern American Recycling Services – MARS – a company that specializes in vessel salvage and other marine operations.George Petras, USA TODAY, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
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As the omen begins to descend onto Karen’s house, the hairs of the mermaids’ arms stand up; their scales twitch in fear.Shamira Ibrahim, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2024
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Not the American economy, which twitched from panic to triumph to panic and, in 1907, had to be bailed out with private funds from Morgan and his associates.Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
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The verses are animated but pretty ordinary; the main moment here is the chorus, which feels plucked straight from the tall tee era.Andre Gee, Rolling Stone, 14 Jan. 2025
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Customers pluck a particular cut or color off the rack.Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 13 Jan. 2025
Verb
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After Florida, the crew went to Southern California to rip.Brendan I. Koerner, WIRED, 13 Jan. 2025
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The historic wildfires currently ripping across parts of Los Angeles County have claimed the lives of at least 10 people and led to the mandatory evacuation of more than 150,000 residents — including a growing list of celebrities who have seen their multi-million-dollar homes go down in flames.Muri Assunção, New York Daily News, 10 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Context: Cox, who previously nurtured a profile as a moderate conservative and critic of President-elect Trump, lurched to the political right last year.Erin Alberty, Axios, 14 Jan. 2025
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The departing team rushed out and climbed into the vehicle, which lurched away, vanishing with haste.C.J. Chivers Robert Fass Krish Seenivasan Steven Szczesniak, New York Times, 31 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near yank
Cite this Entry
“Yank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yank. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
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