as in twisting
a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something
no amount of wresting could loosen the rusted bolt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in pulling
to draw out by force or with effort
the boy wrested the book out of his sister's hands
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in extorting
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
3
as in earning
to get with great difficulty
farmers who were used to wresting a living from the harsh land
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in yanking
to move by or as if by a forceful rotation
I need a strong arm to wrest the lid off this pickle jar
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5
as in grabbing
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
wrested open the stuck door of the cabinet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wresting
Verb
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The Thunder trailed by 16 in the first half before pulling within 52-48 at halftime.—
Austin Knoblauch,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Jan. 2025 -
Advertisement The lawsuit comes as insurers have been pulling back from California’s home insurance market en masse, often citing the risk of catastrophic events brought on by climate change.—
Andrea Chang,
Los Angeles Times,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Markley was an exceptional high school basketball player, earning All-District and All-Area honors.—
Charles Baggarly,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
31 Mar. 2025
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Throughout his career, Robinson made an effort to sharpen his skills and increase his market value for employers, like by getting an MBA, earning nine certifications and eventually focusing his expertise in artificial intelligence — just as AI skills have become more in-demand and more lucrative.—
Jennifer Liu,
CNBC,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
-
The Ravens believe in drafting corners every year, and the first-round selection of Nate Wiggins in 2024 won’t prevent them from grabbing another cornerback early.—
Jeff Zrebiec,
New York Times,
11 Apr. 2025
-
Miley has taken a leaner approach the past few years, only grabbing one jersey and leaving the rest in his locker for the clubhouse workers to donate or disperse.—
Brittany Ghiroli,
New York Times,
11 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
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On Thursday, Khalil and seven students identified by pseudonyms filed a lawsuit seeking to block a congressional committee from obtaining Columbia and Barnard College disciplinary records for students involved in campus protests.—
arkansasonline.com,
arkansasonline.com,
14 Mar. 2025
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Typically, a score of 700 or above secures more favorable loan terms, while scores below 620 may result in higher interest rates or difficulties obtaining approval.—
True Tamplin,
Forbes,
13 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
The final decisive twist in this most enthralling of promotion races?—
Richard Sutcliffe,
New York Times,
19 Apr. 2025
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The knot on the front and the open rounded toe pay homage to your quintessential dress shoes, but the platform profile and wraparound ankle strap add an edgy twist.—
Nina Derwin,
Glamour,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
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For others, the idea evokes gut-wrenching fear and anxiety.—
Mark Travers,
Forbes,
5 Jan. 2025
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The book’s most wrenching passages describe his administration’s treatment of the women, who were often assaulted by mobs while police looked on.—
Barbara Spindel,
The Christian Science Monitor,
2 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Homages to the Bethesda games’ slow-motion kills are aplenty, with gratuitous shots of bullets tearing through bodies and painting the walls red.—
Ars Technica,
Ars Technica,
24 Dec. 2024
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Higbee was on the physically unable to perform list after tearing his back ACL and MCL last postseason.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
22 Dec. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Wresting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wresting. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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