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
Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
Now the big question is whether all the regulators pulling on the buckles and loops of Boeing’s straitjacket, with a potential yank from Justice to come, will seriously delay what looked like the start of strong comeback.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024
Matt Egan, CNN, 13 Mar. 2025
Then along comes a project that yanks you from that shapeless sack of gloom.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for yank
Noun
Only the snarl of the 4.0-liter twin-turbo V-8 will give away that this wagon’s packing 603 horsepower and 627 lb-ft of yank.
—Sean Evans, Robb Report, 5 Apr. 2024
Now the big question is whether all the regulators pulling on the buckles and loops of Boeing’s straitjacket, with a potential yank from Justice to come, will seriously delay what looked like the start of strong comeback.
—Shawn Tully, Fortune, 4 Mar. 2024
Verb
President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canada offended leaders there to the point that Ontario fired back by yanking American booze from store shelves.
—Matt Egan, CNN, 13 Mar. 2025
Then along comes a project that yanks you from that shapeless sack of gloom.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 13 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for yank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yank
Noun
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Activities include a champagne reception with a variety of games where everyone wins a prize for their donation (for example, a $25 chance at the prize wheel will win the donor a $25 gift certificate) and a wine pull.—
Elizabeth Marie Himchak,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
3 Apr. 2025
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Containing around 400 powerful volcanoes, Io is influenced by Jupiter’s gravitational pull and the pull of the planet’s other moons.—
Jack Knudson,
Discover Magazine,
1 Apr. 2025
Verb
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How to jerk off Jerking off, also known as jacking off, is another technique that can be helpful in your arsenal of self-pleasure.—
Quispe López,
Them,
12 Mar. 2025
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Cass jerked open the lever again and an unused shell arcked out and fell in the leaves beside the bleeding hound.—
Frank C. Hibben,
Outdoor Life,
13 Feb. 2025
Verb
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In the footage, Combs, wearing a robe, is seen kicking Ventura, grabbing her by the hair and throwing her to the ground before grabbing her suitcase and handbag.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Apr. 2025
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Roberts grabbed eight boards vs. Gonzaga in the round of 32, 12 vs. Purdue in the Sweet 16 and 12 more vs. Duke in the Final Four.—
Tyler Everett,
MSNBC Newsweek,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Season 3 tugs a similar string by dedicating Episode 7 to two instrumental moments from Ian and Poppy’s childhood.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
26 Mar. 2025
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Downy’s version also acts as a fabric freshener and only requires a spritz on the fabric, plus a tug and smooth to release the wrinkles.—
Rylee Johnston,
Travel + Leisure,
16 Mar. 2025
Verb
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In the footage, the faceless android is seen suspended from the ceiling, its limbs twitching and moving in an unsettlingly human-like manner.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
Fox News,
11 Mar. 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
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Those commercial jobs grew scarce because of the consolidation of ad agencies and the rise of marketing content plucked from social media.—
Steven Kurutz,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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Whether picked from your garden or plucked from the farmer’s market, fresh asparagus is one of the surest signs of spring.—
Sarah Martens,
Better Homes & Gardens,
25 Mar. 2025
Verb
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But Paredes singled on a first-pitch fastball from Jax, and Alvarez ripped the reliever’s pitch for a no-doubt, two-run homer.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
7 Apr. 2025
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And one protester had his sign ripped out of his hand, prompting others to jump in between the two men.—
Christina Merino,
Oc Register,
5 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But the ruling did little to herald any political stability in the country, which has lurched from crisis to crisis.—
Choe Sang-Hun,
New York Times,
24 Mar. 2025
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For the last six weeks, Americans have been yanked and ghosted, lurched and launched with a merciless urgency.—
Philip Elliott,
TIME,
5 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Yank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yank. Accessed 16 Apr. 2025.
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