: a strongly built powerful boat used for towing and pushing
called also towboat
Examples of tugboat in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
On July 28, Insua was operating a tugboat pushing a barge loaded with construction debris with a deckhouse and crane obstructing the vessel's front view, per the statement.
—
Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
At the time of the crash, the tugboat's radio was also tuned to a channel used to communicate with drawbridge operators instead of one used for emergencies on the water, according to prosecutors, even though the boat's path didn't include any drawbridges.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
Insua didn't have a clear view as the tugboat pushed a barge full of construction debris in Biscayne Bay, according to the office.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
The captain of the tugboat pushing a large construction barge that crashed into a sailboat full of summer campers, killing three young girls last summer, has been charged with their deaths.
—David Goodhue, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tugboat
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.
Samira Asma-Sadeque, PEOPLE, 3 Apr. 2026
At the time of the crash, the tugboat's radio was also tuned to a channel used to communicate with drawbridge operators instead of one used for emergencies on the water, according to prosecutors, even though the boat's path didn't include any drawbridges.
—Dennis Romero, NBC news, 1 Apr. 2026
Insua didn't have a clear view as the tugboat pushed a barge full of construction debris in Biscayne Bay, according to the office.
—ABC News, 1 Apr. 2026
The captain of the tugboat pushing a large construction barge that crashed into a sailboat full of summer campers, killing three young girls last summer, has been charged with their deaths.
—David Goodhue, Sun Sentinel, 31 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for tugboat
Cite this Entry
“Tugboat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tugboat. Accessed 6 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
tugboat
noun
tug·boat
ˈtəg-ˌbōt 
: a strongly built powerful boat used for towing and pushing ships
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
