1
as in pull
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force
a quick pluck pulled the hair right out
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in courage
the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship
it takes pluck to survive a crippling car accident and still go on to become successful
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to squeeze
to rob by the use of trickery or threats
the Internet opened up a whole new medium for con artists to pluck the gullible
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of pluck
Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
The opening acoustic guitar plucks get strong low-mid resonance to sound nice and big, while the higher frequencies receive enough attention to convey string texture.
—PC Magazine, 16 June 2025
Brett Kelman, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
The delicate foliage and cheery red and yellow flowers are easy to pluck out if a plant sprouts out of bounds.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pluck
Noun
The judge relented in the face of his daughter’s determination, perhaps more than a little proud of her patriotic pluck.
—Literary Hub, 7 Aug. 2025
The opening acoustic guitar plucks get strong low-mid resonance to sound nice and big, while the higher frequencies receive enough attention to convey string texture.
—PC Magazine, 16 June 2025
Verb
Ultimately, helicopters plucked 70 people from the roof and the rushing water, narrowly avoiding fatalities.
—Brett Kelman, CBS News, 9 Feb. 2026
The delicate foliage and cheery red and yellow flowers are easy to pluck out if a plant sprouts out of bounds.
—Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for pluck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pluck
Noun
-
That gravitational pull extended through much of Xi Jinping's first five-year term, when China still projected the promise of profits and opportunity more than political constraint and economic contraction.—
Dewardric L. McNeal,
CNBC,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Inside, rather than succumbing to the pull of an open floor plan, Rai leaned into the home’s distinct zones and cozy nooks, which are evocative of another era.—
Linne Halpern,
Architectural Digest,
12 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
There is always a final shot — the one taken out of misplaced faith that courage can be distilled.—
Ana Gutierrez,
Austin American Statesman,
10 Feb. 2026
-
February 19 – March 20 When kindness meets courage, hearts feel safe.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Impacciatore, squeezed into a skin-tight Power Rangers suit, performed an entire clowning routine where she’s accosted by abstract embodiments of various winter sports throughout history.—
Rebecca Alter,
Vulture,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Sometimes, producers work with players to squeeze their take into the allotted time.—
Jacob Feldman,
Sportico.com,
7 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The games in previous years consisted of events like precision passing competitions, spectacular catch competitions, dodgeball games, tug of war bouts and relay races.—
Sam Warren,
Houston Chronicle,
2 Feb. 2026
-
Even as home priorities tug, warmth and patience keep everyone on your side through this shift.—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
For even more carb-friendly pairing ideas, Pasquariello suggests whole-grain toast, sautéed potatoes, grits, or even a piece of fruit.—
Ashia Aubourg,
Outside,
8 Feb. 2026
-
However, kids need to be challenged in order to develop the skills, tenacity, grit, and self-reliance needed to (eventually) function in the world on their own.—
Alanna Gallo,
Parents,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
In the days following a second consecutive season without making the playoffs, Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, in a walk-off interview with local reporters after the final news conference of the season, admitted that the loss of one player stung significantly.—
Joseph Hoyt,
Dallas Morning News,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Steve died in 2006 after being stung by a stingray at the Batt Reef off the coast of Australia.—
Janelle Ash , Larry Fink,
FOXNews.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Effectively, this turned the workspace into a yank buffer along with all your documents, and undoing any destructive editing operation thus became merely another cut and paste.—
Cameron Kaiser,
ArsTechnica,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Visitors to China will want to lighten their grip, while folks introducing themselves to Germans should know to stop after one firm downward yank.—
Chris Ciolli,
AFAR Media,
15 July 2025
Noun
-
That probably takes as much strength and fortitude as taking a knee when no one else will.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Those who had greater mental fortitude—the ability to find emotional steadiness when faced with a traumatic event—fared better than those with less resilience who were hit with the same diagnosis.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
5 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pluck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pluck. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
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