tug 1 of 2

noun

Definition of tugnext
as in pull
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force gave the man in front a tug on his shirtsleeve as a sign that he was supposed to step aside

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tug

2 of 2

verb

ˈtəg How to pronounce tug (audio)
1
as in to pull
to cause to follow by applying steady force on tugged on the door until it opened

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to struggle
to devote serious and sustained effort she's tugged all her life to get to where she is now in the business world

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 tug
Noun
The European Investment Bank (EIB) estimates that roughly 200 wrecks, including warships, barges, tugs, and cargo vessels, remain scattered across a five-kilometer stretch of the river near Prahovo. — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Aug. 2026 As emails and text messages tug at our sleeves, even a short lull in the labors of the day can feel like an indulgence. — Danny Heitman, Christian Science Monitor, 31 July 2026
Verb
The incident appeared to have tugged on something much deeper. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 8 Aug. 2026 Either way, the spread of kudzu, Burmese pythons, Joro spiders, mosquitoes, killer bees, and Asiatic false hawk’s-beards, to name just a few, has tugged on some primal taproot in us. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tug
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tug
  1. pull
  2. haul
  3. struggle
  4. yank
  5. drag
  6. labor
  7. jerk
  8. strive
Noun
  • But the pull is strong, because one aspect of the long walk has not changed since 1990—that beautiful simplicity, which remains as essential to the experience as ever.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Layden says her career change stemmed from a pull toward nursing as well as a push away from the volatility and outdated norms of the corporate world.
    — Sarah Jackson, CNBC, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of pull
Verb
  • What remains of the trade are 25,000 American horses, gathered up by kill buyers and hauled to slaughter plants across our northern and southern borders.
    — Wayne Pacelle, New York Daily News, 13 Aug. 2026
  • Over several weeks, crews physically unbolted and hauled out heavy machinery, dragging thousands of tons of steel out the door.
    — Andrew J. Hawkins, The Verge, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of haul
Verb
  • According to the court document, the fraud scheme started with recruiting young women who were homeless or struggling with addiction, housing or finances.
    — Adam Duxter, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026
  • Even as Brandon Marsh struggled against lefties, he was allowed to hit against tough relievers late in games.
    — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026
Definition of struggle
Noun
  • The yanks are coming, the yanks are coming!
    — Kirk Bowman, The Conversation, 9 June 2026
  • Connie Lansdown, the hysterectomy patient, watches the storm yank a man from a reclining chair and drag him down the hall.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 22 May 2026
Definition of yank
Verb
  • Pleitez would later tell police she was being confronted by Ahumada and others, who were assaulting her 20-year-old companion and attempting to drag him from the car.
    — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • An agreement could provide momentum for talks to renew the USMCA North American trade pact; US-Mexico talks have dragged on, and the White House has publicly opposed renewing the transcontinental deal.
    — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of drag
Verb
  • Royals starter Seth Lugo labored through 4 2/3 innings while allowing five runs.
    — Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 15 Aug. 2026
  • Indiana National Guard soldiers labored in Hobart, Gary and Munster to clear trees and limbs to reopen streets.
    — Carole Carlson, Chicago Tribune, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of labor
Noun
  • In Show Must Go On, the comedian embraces his own compassion by pretending to be a jerk.
    — Britina Cheng, Vulture, 11 Aug. 2026
  • That screwed up the works / And not due to his sloppy hiring / Of a crew of incompetent jerks.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of jerk
Verb
  • The league will strive to avoid the potential unintended consequences referenced above.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 20 Aug. 2026
  • Exclusion generates the prestige toward which unpaid labors strive.
    — M. C. Mah, Literary Hub, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of strive

Browse Nearby Words

tufts
tug
tugboat
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tug.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tug. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on tug

Nglish: Translation of tug for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of rigmarole

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All