wrench 1 of 2

noun

Definition of wrenchnext
1
as in twist
a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something with a sharp wrench of the hammer I pulled the nail from the board

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2
as in tug
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force with one final hard wrench I was able to pull the cork from the bottle

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

wrench

2 of 2

verb

ˈrench How to pronounce wrench (audio)
1
as in to pull
to move by or as if by a forceful rotation with one last sharp yank, he wrenched the lid off the bottle of ketchup

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2
as in to damage
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure wrenched her shoulder by all of that heavy lifting

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3
as in to yank
to separate or remove by forceful pulling wrenched the post out of the ground

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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 wrench
Noun
This game being in Melbourne does throw a wrench into the betting strategy. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 10 Sep. 2026 But as the Paramount-WBD merger shows, with the deal now held up because of an antitrust suit brought by state AGs, any wrench in the process can become a major holdup to dealmaking. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 9 Sep. 2026
Verb
The driver wrenched the Jeep to the left, arm over arm churning at the wheel. — Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026 After her Acura was rear-ended in May 2022, a car crash that wrenched her neck and back, Samantha Roper sought out a chiropractor. — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for wrench
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrench
  1. twist
  2. tug
  3. pull
  4. yank
  5. wrenching
  6. jerk
  7. tear
  8. grab
Noun
  • The best twists will come out of the moves that the firms can’t possibly anticipate.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
  • Award-winning chef Kai Mueller has created a large and unusual menu that leans into the location, with a much healthier twist (all dishes that are safe to have on the detox programme are clearly marked).
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of twist
Noun
  • The knitting process is portable and easy, but the structure also means a tug on one loose end can quickly unravel the whole project.
    — Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Barr allegedly stole an Alaska Airlines tug from the field, crashed it into another vehicle near Gate 7, and then attempted to steal an American Airlines lavatory truck, but was taken into custody by airport police.
    — Breaking News, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of tug
Verb
  • Achane’s replacement scored at the end of the third quarter pulled Miami within a score, making it 12-10 headed into the fourth quarter.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Like a matador swirling his cape, Patrick Roden-Reynolds pulled a swatch of white flannel this way and that on the grass and leaf litter in my yard.
    — Bob Drogin, Los Angeles Times, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of pull
Verb
  • Zabransky was the first person to reach Rabb in the end zone, yanking him into the air for a bear hug.
    — Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 3 Oct. 2026
  • There’s also an ending that revels in a form of catharsis — for the audience watching the play, not the movie — before yanking that, too, away.
    — David Mack, CNN Money, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of yank
Noun
  • Iyer called the case heart-wrenching.
    — Nick Ferraro, Twin Cities, 8 May 2026
  • This can feel challenging and heart-wrenching.
    — Cori Sears, The Spruce, 22 Jan. 2026
Definition of wrenching
Noun
  • Bella’s childhood friend Angus (Jake Simmance), a corporate jerk, condescendingly probes Johnny about his career.
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • There was significant excitement over the first-look footage revealing perhaps the world’s biggest movie star transforming himself to become a portly, gray-haired jerk in an offbeat feature focusing on climate change.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of jerk
Verb
  • The Seahawks pulled away as the second half wore on, scoring three unanswered touchdowns and tearing through the heart of the Chargers’ defense, sometimes scarcely touched.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Hintz, who tore his hamstring in two places last season, was moving gingerly when behind helped off the ice, but returned a few minutes later.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of tear
Verb
  • Two teenage suspects, ages 14 and 15, allegedly grabbed a necklace from the victim’s neck after walking by them, according to police.
    — Camryn Dadey, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 2026
  • Or, just head down to one of the bars by the pool or grab a fresh juice.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026
Definition of grab

Browse Nearby Words

wrecks
wrench
wrenched
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Cite this Entry

“Wrench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrench. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on wrench

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about wrench

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