1
2
as in to pry
to draw out by force or with effort
the dentist had to struggle to pull the tooth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in tug
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force
I gave the door such a pull that when it suddenly opened, I nearly fell backwards
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in influence
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly
their lawyer supposedly has a lot of pull with the administration in Washington
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in advantage
the more favorable condition or position in a competition
a political candidate with all of the pull that comes with a vast fortune and famous surname
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of pull
Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023
As ghosts, fate and the sheer power of true love pull Nicholas and Isabel together, so too does life threaten to tear them apart.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2023
Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Law enforcement conducted a trash pull there and obtained DNA that tied Kohberger to the knife sheath.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pull
Verb
During the event, Riley wore black boots, a black dress, held a black and gold bag, and rocked a pair of massive gold hoops to pull it all together.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023
As ghosts, fate and the sheer power of true love pull Nicholas and Isabel together, so too does life threaten to tear them apart.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2023
Noun
The Biden administration’s strategy relied on a push and a pull.
—Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 20 Feb. 2025
Law enforcement conducted a trash pull there and obtained DNA that tied Kohberger to the knife sheath.
—Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 20 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pull
Verb
-
The second principle—and this is doubly important for us outdoor enthusiasts—is understanding that maintenance schedules are based on normal driving cycles, and not heavy use activities like towing, hauling a heavy camper around, or driving off-road.—
Wes Siler,
Outside Online,
2 Mar. 2025
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Eris is designed to haul payloads of up to 672 pounds (305 kilograms) to low-Earth orbit, and will launch from Bowen Orbital Spaceport in Queensland on Australia's northeastern coast.—
Stephen Clark,
Ars Technica,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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No official tally of firings has been released, but the list stretches into the thousands and to nearly every part of the country.—
Matt Sedensky,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2025
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However, gardeners may not be aware that harvests from their garden’s plants can be stretched simply by expanding to non-traditional parts of their plants.—
Anthony Reardon,
Kansas City Star,
7 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Doing so could allow the density of the asteroid to be calculated, based on its gravitational tug on the spacecraft.—
Jonathan O’Callaghan,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2025
-
Indestructible ring ball: $24.99 Big dogs who like to play tug or chew their toys will love this indestructible ring ball.—
Christopher Murray,
Fox News,
18 Feb. 2025
Noun
-
The rise in sushi’s popularity is intertwined with a Ukrainian trend toward eating what America and the rest of the West eats—a cosmopolitan way of looking at the world absent of Russian influence.—
Tim Mak,
Bon Appétit,
6 Mar. 2025
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At this point, the Voyagers are tasked with studying the interstellar medium found beyond the influence of the sun.—
Meghan Bartels,
Scientific American,
6 Mar. 2025
Noun
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These early experiments illustrated one of geothermal’s key advantages: it can be used for both electricity and heating, which collectively account for around thirty-eight per cent of global climate emissions.—
Brent Crane,
The New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2025
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That was granted after bitter rival Real Madrid fluffed its lines and lost 2-1 to Real Betis in Seville on Saturday night, while Atletico Madrid got past Athletic Club with a 1-0 win to gain a two-point advantage.—
Tom Sanderson,
Forbes,
2 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But the 2013 peace process soon collapsed as tensions reignited, dragging Turkey and the PKK back into a bloody war and ending a two-year ceasefire.—
Eyad Kourdi,
CNN,
1 Mar. 2025
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The most illuminated of them, hatless and dragging, is followed by a marginally more active figure, the only one to acknowledge the viewer’s presence.—
Sarah C. Schaefer,
Artforum,
1 Mar. 2025
Verb
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That insurance goal proved to be invaluable two minutes later, when Dougherty’s defenders yanked down a De La Salle player in the box on a set piece and were called for a penalty.—
Joseph Dycus,
The Mercury News,
3 Mar. 2025
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But at the very end, the movie features a giant song-and-dance routine – a shout-out to traditional Bollywood – that a little-too-seamlessly transitions out of the final scene and yanks you out of a satisfying ending.—
Brian Truitt,
USA TODAY,
27 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Being generic with your applications will hurt you in the end.—
Rachel Wells,
Forbes,
10 Mar. 2025
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One person has been physically hurt — a worshipper who suffered burns in a fire that was set at a Melbourne synagogue in December.—
TIME,
TIME,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pull. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.
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