TUGGING Synonyms: 105 Similar and Opposite Words

tugging

verb

present participle of tug

as in pulling

to cause to follow by applying steady force on tugged on the door until it opened

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in laboring

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 tugging Teams earned points by winning weekly head-to-head battles – tugging a sled across the field the fastest, surviving a heated game of dodgeball – and by simply doing the right thing. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026 Other players rushed to the scene, with linebacker Dre Greenlaw tugging right tackle Colton McKivitz to the ground, prompting fullback Kyle Juszczyk to enter the fray and a dogpile ensued. — Cam Inman, Mercury News, 31 July 2026 After tugging on the singer's arm, the concertgoer was quickly apprehended by security. — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 31 July 2026 Prying policy specifics from a political candidate often is like tugging a bone from a bulldog. — George F. Will, Washington Post, 17 July 2026 Jude, meanwhile, was shifting from tossing cones to tugging at his ears, afflicted with the same malady that had landed several of the toddlers on the room’s version of the injury list. — ABC News, 30 June 2026 These ergonomic neoprene handle wraps provide additional cushioning around the handles of your carry-on or checked suitcase, a dream for tired, achy hands after a day of tugging luggage. — Amelia McBride, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2026 But the combatants kept grasping and tugging each other off-balance. — Bob Brody, New York Daily News, 21 June 2026 He is seen in the video grabbing and tugging on her to prevent her from leaving. — Devoun Cetoute, Miami Herald, 20 June 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for tugging

Verb

Rescue crews were able to save lives in their response by pulling an elderly woman out of a tree when her house washed away, Green said.

— Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026
Valencia led off the fourth inning with his sixth home run in 50 career at-bats, pulling the Tigers within a run.

— CBS News, CBS News, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of pulling

Verb

While practicing for a sixth straight day, laboring in a heat index pushing 90 degrees, the Chiefs were bound to be a bit ill-mannered.

— Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Aug. 2026
Complicated births that require, for example, extended time laboring will now be differentiated and might cost more, while uncomplicated births will cost less.

— Camille A. Clare, STAT, 23 July 2026

Definition of laboring

Verb

Families who love trails might lean toward all-terrain bikes, while parents hauling groceries or little ones may want the extra boost of an e-bike.

— ABC News, ABC News, 11 Aug. 2026
The Falcon 9's upper stage, meanwhile, continued hauling the 29 Starlink satellites to LEO today.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 11 Aug. 2026

Definition of hauling

Verb

Similar to Abrams, the young shortstop had shown a knack for exceptional, highlight-reel plays while struggling with consistency.

— Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 16 Aug. 2026
Flagship carriers including American, Lufthansa, Riyadh Air and Singapore Airlines are all struggling to navigate the lengthy, multi-year approval process for bespoke cabins.

— Edward Russell, CNN Money, 15 Aug. 2026

Definition of struggling

Verb

Paradoxically, striving for evermore money and material goods as a means of improving wellbeing often undermines quality of life.

— Janet Linly, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026
But his appointment also lit a fire among a group of academics - and others - who believe Cambridge and other universities and public bodies are striving too hard to increase their diversity.

— Rupert Neate, CNN Money, 16 Aug. 2026

Definition of striving

Verb

Fernandes says the north side of the park is much better than the south side because his team is working section by section to bring change, noting that a safe park is critical to the well-being of the people who live in the area.

— Jeff Nguyen, CBS News, 14 Aug. 2026
For this fixture, Aaronson seems like the safer, reassuring, hard-working choice Farke will make.

— Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of working

Verb

Your children therefore may not understand the scope of the difference between trying a swimsuit on a figure that looks like them online and not wearing clothes at all, according to Steel.

— CNN Money, CNN Money, 18 Aug. 2026
Now, Ramirez and Chang are trying to bring the same sense of connection to their own classrooms.

— Melissa May, CBS News, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of trying

Browse Nearby Words

tugged

tugging

tug-of-war

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“Tugging.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tugging. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of tugging

verb

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