1
2
as in to pry
to draw out by force or with effort
the dentist had to struggle to pull the tooth
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in tug
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force
I gave the door such a pull that when it suddenly opened, I nearly fell backwards
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in influence
the power to direct the thinking or behavior of others usually indirectly
their lawyer supposedly has a lot of pull with the administration in Washington
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in advantage
the more favorable condition or position in a competition
a political candidate with all of the pull that comes with a vast fortune and famous surname
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of pull
Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023
As ghosts, fate and the sheer power of true love pull Nicholas and Isabel together, so too does life threaten to tear them apart.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2023
Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 7 Jan. 2025
The pull to own the parcel outright and have a major say in what happens around it is common in modern pro sports ownership.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 5 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for pull 
Verb
During the event, Riley wore black boots, a black dress, held a black and gold bag, and rocked a pair of massive gold hoops to pull it all together.
—Brenton Blanchet, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2023
As ghosts, fate and the sheer power of true love pull Nicholas and Isabel together, so too does life threaten to tear them apart.
—Alex Ritman, The Hollywood Reporter, 31 Jan. 2023
Noun
Fudd will also likely contend with more defensive pressure than she’s used to without the gravitational pull of Bueckers on the floor, which will challenge her to reestablish her comfort with embracing in-game contact again.
—Emily Adams, Hartford Courant, 7 Jan. 2025
The pull to own the parcel outright and have a major say in what happens around it is common in modern pro sports ownership.
—Parker Gabriel, The Denver Post, 5 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for pull
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pull
Verb
-
He’s hauled out of bed to go hunting with his hard-ass, militaristic father Grady (Sam Jaeger), whose bellowing about trying to keep his son safe is almost as frightening as the growling beast that appears to be stalking them.—
David Rooney,
The Hollywood Reporter,
15 Jan. 2025
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There is also a hope to haul director Tim Miller, who helmed the first Deadpool movie and was reported to have had friction with Reynolds, into the ever-expanding Lively vs Baldoni saga.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
14 Jan. 2025
Verb
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His reporting on billionaires has stretched from America's largest cardboard box factory to Donald Trump's ...—
Chase Peterson-Withorn,
Forbes,
19 Jan. 2025
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That, in turn, now allows the Pixel Watch 3 to stretch in some new directions.—
Sheena Vasani,
The Verge,
18 Jan. 2025
Noun
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Offerings include arts and crafts, caber toss, the haggis hurl, sheaf toss and tug of war in a non-competitive environment.—
Patrick Connolly,
Orlando Sentinel,
17 Jan. 2025
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Investors expect volatility in the flagship cryptocurrency this year, with bitcoin stuck in a tug of war between investors’ concerns about rising inflation under Trump and their optimism over the his pro-crypto leadership.—
Tanaya Macheel,
CNBC,
16 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Despite these denials, the alliance between the two nations is increasingly viewed as a counterweight to Western influence in the region and beyond.—
Yaakov Katz,
Newsweek,
17 Jan. 2025
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Intense fighting in Europe between Russia and Ukraine, broad conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon, and escalating flareups across the Middle East between Israel and Iran have tested U.S. influence.—
Alexis Simendinger,
The Hill,
17 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
Sensing that this dad was open to being chatted up, Colvin sat next to him and tried to use raw honesty to his advantage.—
Brendan I. Koerner,
WIRED,
13 Jan. 2025
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That actually worked to Naperville North’s advantage.—
Matt Le Cren,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Trump is right to try to end the conflict; a war that drags on indefinitely could eventually turn Ukraine into a failed state.—
Charles A. Kupchan,
The Atlantic,
10 Jan. 2025
-
Polls show approval ratings for Yoon’s ruling party have been rising as the crisis drags on.—
Ryan Hogg,
Fortune Asia,
10 Jan. 2025
Verb
-
On Monday, two police officers struggled to pull a coyote out of a fridge at an Aldi store, with a now-viral video showing an officer yank it out by its tail before the animal jumps right back into the fridge.—
Michael Gfoeller And David H. Rundell,
Newsweek,
15 Jan. 2025
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At one point another DOC officer, wearing blue latex gloves, yanks him up by the scruff of the neck and drags him to the back of the room by a window.—
Thomas Tracy,
New York Daily News,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The first-term mayor said $17.8 million in LAFD reductions hasn't hurt efforts to knock down the still out-of-control Palisades Fire.—
Janhvi Bhojwani,
NBC News,
10 Jan. 2025
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Can Berube afford to have more of those mistakes in his own end hurt a team that’s already short-handed?—
Joshua Kloke,
The Athletic,
9 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near pull
Cite this Entry
“Pull.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pull. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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