as in pulls
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
1
2
as in struggles
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
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Recent Examples of tugs
Dana Karni, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
In space, the gravitational tugs from passing planets act like those currents.
—Patrick M. Shober, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
The research builds on earlier work where robotic guide dogs responded to physical cues like leash tugs.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Apr. 2026
Amy Heckerling, in her feature debut, has proven herself to be a truly gifted director, able to tickle the ribs with one hand while the other tugs at the heartstrings.
—Gina Friedlande, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
Scheduling tugs, fuel barges, crane operators, drayage trucks and drivers is complex indeed.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026
The ship is moved in, slowly and carefully; tugs help, and so does the shipyard crew.
—Carl Nolte, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 Mar. 2026
If a public request tugs at private feelings, pause to check your boundaries, then accept only what supports family rhythms and true priorities.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
And gear that hugs and tugs in all the wrong places doesn’t whisper.
—Marisa McMillan, Outside, 27 Feb. 2026
H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
Young deftly tugs readers into an atmospheric novel perfect for spring book clubs.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
The moody Moon tugs at vigorous Mars, resulting in a square that puts pressure on your wary 8th house and your typically more light-hearted 5th house.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2026
The pacing slackens a little as the complicated process inches forward, but the ending tugs the heartstrings in enormously satisfying ways.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
Isabelle slides off Sarah’s lap, flings the towel, pulls on her swimming mask, grabs her mom’s hand and tugs her toward the pool.
—Gerald Witt, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Riley tugs the false eyelashes off.
—Alex Ross, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
This book tugs at all the heartstrings.
—Charlotte Observer, 15 Dec. 2025
The idea of moving to America constantly tugs at rising singer-songwriter Larissa Lambert.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
The ships represented by red shapes are tankers, while green shapes represent cargo ships and light blue ones are tugs, service or military vessels.
—Dana Karni, CNN Money, 20 Apr. 2026
In space, the gravitational tugs from passing planets act like those currents.
—Patrick M. Shober, The Conversation, 10 Apr. 2026
The research builds on earlier work where robotic guide dogs responded to physical cues like leash tugs.
—Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Apr. 2026
Amy Heckerling, in her feature debut, has proven herself to be a truly gifted director, able to tickle the ribs with one hand while the other tugs at the heartstrings.
—Gina Friedlande, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
Scheduling tugs, fuel barges, crane operators, drayage trucks and drivers is complex indeed.
—Edward Lotterman, Twin Cities, 29 Mar. 2026
The ship is moved in, slowly and carefully; tugs help, and so does the shipyard crew.
—Carl Nolte, San Francisco Chronicle, 21 Mar. 2026
If a public request tugs at private feelings, pause to check your boundaries, then accept only what supports family rhythms and true priorities.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
And gear that hugs and tugs in all the wrong places doesn’t whisper.
—Marisa McMillan, Outside, 27 Feb. 2026
Verb
The immediacy of svn4vr’s arrangements always tugs the heartstrings.
—H.d. Angel, Pitchfork, 9 Apr. 2026
Young deftly tugs readers into an atmospheric novel perfect for spring book clubs.
—Literary Hub, 3 Apr. 2026
The moody Moon tugs at vigorous Mars, resulting in a square that puts pressure on your wary 8th house and your typically more light-hearted 5th house.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 24 Mar. 2026
The pacing slackens a little as the complicated process inches forward, but the ending tugs the heartstrings in enormously satisfying ways.
—David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
Isabelle slides off Sarah’s lap, flings the towel, pulls on her swimming mask, grabs her mom’s hand and tugs her toward the pool.
—Gerald Witt, AJC.com, 1 Mar. 2026
Riley tugs the false eyelashes off.
—Alex Ross, PEOPLE, 29 Jan. 2026
This book tugs at all the heartstrings.
—Charlotte Observer, 15 Dec. 2025
The idea of moving to America constantly tugs at rising singer-songwriter Larissa Lambert.
—Carl Lamarre, Billboard, 28 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tugs
Noun
-
His workout also consists of cable pulls, hanging leg raises, ab wheel rollouts and more.—
Vanessa Etienne,
PEOPLE,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Swapping cabinet knobs, drawer pulls and towel hooks is a fast way to modernize the space.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Sacbee.com,
13 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Now, the price shock from the war with Iran has become yet another headache for the beleaguered industry that hauls 70% of all freight in America.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Apr. 2026
-
After lowering the helicopter to the water's surface, a flight crew member grabs the dog and hauls the pet aboard.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Anticipated state struggles to regulate foreign apps is why a federal ban would be preferable, 19th News reported.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
1 May 2026
-
In addition to his family situation as a child, Horner's lawyers have presented evidence about his autism diagnosis, struggles with mental health, lead exposure and issues with his brain development in order to convince the jury to sentence him to life in prison instead of death row.—
Steven Rosenbaum,
CBS News,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The trio pulled up on e-bikes, drove up to the entrance of the Information Center and began shouting and taking pictures, pausing to take drags off a vape while peering through the shuttered doors.—
James Queally,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Work fewer than 35 years and the SSA plugs zeros into the missing slots, which drags your benefit down.—
Allison Palmer,
Charlotte Observer,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Add in Michael’s goth love interest, Star (Maria Wirries), and the musical strives to capture some of the cult appeal of the source musical, the plot of which David Hornsby and Chris Hoch’s book follows closely with one notable change.—
Chris Jones,
New York Daily News,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The Eurovision contest strives to put pop music before politics but has repeatedly been embroiled in world events.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This was just the beginning of us young anarchists becoming judgmental jerks.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
7 Apr. 2026
-
In the new sequel, Grace teams with her estranged younger sister, Faith (Kathryn Newton), as they’re hunted by four elite families full of murderous jerks scrambling to become the High Seat of a Council that controls the world.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Every man and woman who labors in the construction industry deserves that.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Engineers constantly tweak the system to throw new (virtual) wrenches in the cogs to keep its Super Cruise as up to date as possible with the oddest and unlikeliest scenarios.—
Kristin Shaw,
Popular Science,
30 Apr. 2026
-
There are two tire changers, front side and rear side, who use air wrenches to loosen the single lug nut on the old tires and tighten the lug on the new tires.—
Walter Villa,
Miami Herald,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Tugs.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tugs. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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