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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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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
Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2025
The last time Prince Andrew spoke on the relevant topic he was yanked from public life and universally ridiculed.
—Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 12 Feb. 2025
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
In 2023, a trial court judge ruled the Education Department could not force families to yank their children out of noncompliant schools, effectively forcing the programs to shutter.
—Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 18 Feb. 2025
The last time Prince Andrew spoke on the relevant topic he was yanked from public life and universally ridiculed.
—Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 12 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for yank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yank
Noun
-
According to the team, the gravitational pull of our solar system's planets and passing stars do not have much of an effect on the Oort Cloud.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
-
Without clear, enforceable security standards, American investors remain vulnerable to rug pulls, hacks, and exchange breaches.—
Cloris Chen,
Forbes,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The Tesla doesn’t have that collaborative aspect and will shut off if the driver jerks the wheel.—
Robert Ferris,
CNBC,
4 Feb. 2025
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There are numerous moments where she is lost in a dream or a memory before suddenly jerking awake, often too clearly delineating the boundaries in a film ostensibly about its main character’s delusions.—
Ryan Swen,
Variety,
18 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
Tari Eason scored 14 points and Dillon Brooks added 12. Sabonis’ injury Sabonis grabbed his left hamstring while running the floor just over a minute into the game.—
Jason Anderson,
Sacramento Bee,
2 Mar. 2025
-
Lozano exited the match in the 28th minute after appearing to grab his left hamstring.—
Ryan Finley,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
2 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
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
Verb
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Something similar happened to Lindon’s recreation of a Picasso painting: His hand twitched, tearing the work to pieces.—
Sonja Anderson,
Smithsonian Magazine,
28 Feb. 2025
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For example, dogs who love running might be twitching their paws while dreaming.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
They were all plucked from Gerbi’s orbit of creatives.—
Rhonda Richford,
WWD,
4 Mar. 2025
-
Leaving the ‘Touch of Gold’ Holly in the planter, pluck out the cool weather annuals to make room for their summer-friendly counterparts.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
-
Cristian Arango ripped a shot past John Pulskamp for the first goal, after Sporting’s midfield was momentarily carved apart.—
Daniel Sperry,
Kansas City Star,
2 Mar. 2025
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The Twister: Caught in the Storm (Netflix documentary) In May 2011, a massive tornado ripped through Joplin, Miss.—
Ryan Schwartz,
TVLine,
28 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Onlookers often see a chaotic show—politicians exploiting controversy, celebrities minting obscure tokens, and a sector seemingly lurching from one scandal to the next.—
Matt Robison,
Newsweek,
25 Feb. 2025
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With American soldiers still fighting in the Pacific theater, my father joined a war bond tour, lurching around the United States with some of the flag-raising soldiers to drum up financial support for what turned out to be the waning days of World War II.—
Hannah Beech,
New York Times,
23 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Yank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yank. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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