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
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 pluck
Brooks Barnes, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
The opening acoustic guitar plucks get reasonable low-mid resonance and sound reasonably full while conveying string texture in the higher frequencies.
—PCMAG, 27 Jan. 2025
Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
The couple aims to make the upscale Urbana Sur feel like it’s plucked straight from the streets of Mexico City, where Valdez is from.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pluck
Noun
In 2015, an exceedingly polite, marmalade-slurping fellow in a floppy felt hat and blue duffel coat arrived in theaters and offered an uplifting story about tolerance and pluck.
—Brooks Barnes, New York Times, 14 Feb. 2025
The opening acoustic guitar plucks get reasonable low-mid resonance and sound reasonably full while conveying string texture in the higher frequencies.
—PCMAG, 27 Jan. 2025
Verb
Leal, who is forty, tall, and broad-shouldered, with a pair of delicate nose rings and a low ponytail, plucked one off the belt and handed it to me.
—Hannah Goldfield, New Yorker, 26 May 2025
The couple aims to make the upscale Urbana Sur feel like it’s plucked straight from the streets of Mexico City, where Valdez is from.
—Jenna Thompson, Kansas City Star, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for pluck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pluck
Noun
-
How to Pick a Hardware Color If choosing colorful knobs and pulls, Stephenson says her first move is to eliminate disliked colors.—
Kristina McGuirk,
Better Homes & Gardens,
7 June 2025
-
Considering their pull with the UFC and PFL, could a superfight even happen?—
James Brizuela,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 June 2025
Noun
-
Police in Largo shared a video of the encounter, as Officer Christopher Martinez, from Long Island, tried to work up the courage to hold the alligator.—
Saleen Martin,
USA Today,
14 June 2025
-
If any courage is left at the Bar’s elegant headquarters in Tallahassee, the Bondi exemption should be rescinded.—
The Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 June 2025
Verb
-
In some towns, utility poles were removed so the caravans could squeeze through.—
Angela Jackson,
Forbes.com,
5 June 2025
-
Hundreds of people squeezed into the Jewish Community Center in Boulder, Colo., for a vigil that featured prayer, singing and emotional testimony from a victim and witnesses of the firebombing attack in the city’s downtown, after a federal judge blocked the deportation of the suspect’s family.—
Colleen Slevin,
Los Angeles Times,
5 June 2025
Noun
-
Marine Group officials wanted to demonstrate that converting similarly sized tugs from diesel to electric can be replicated by other companies, such as excursion boats and dinner cruises.—
Rob Nikolewski,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 June 2025
-
That, in turn, scuttled the main objective of the mission — having the Otter rendezvous with the Launcher tug down the road.—
Mike Wall,
Space.com,
21 May 2025
Noun
-
Fried has been everything and more the Yankees could have hoped for, getting to 8-1 through his first 11 starts with the mix of dominance and grit.—
Larry Fleisher,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
-
Rather than wait for wildlife officials to take management action, a few islanders are taking matters into their own hands with a plan full of small-town grit.—
Alice Jones Webb,
Outdoor Life,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
Rough as that was, a fielding mistake may have stung worse.—
Compiled From Wire Reports,
The Orlando Sentinel,
5 June 2025
-
According to news stories, Macron was stung by the report’s lukewarm reception in Algeria.—
Lauren Collins,
New Yorker,
2 June 2025
Noun
-
Four yanks later, voila: Clayton had pulled free his prize, leaving just a single strand of nylon stuck in the Alamodome rim.—
Brendan Marks,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
-
Each blade has a pull tab at the top of its cartridge; just give it a gentle yank to remove it.—
Jenny Berg,
Vogue,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Coco Gauff showcased her unrivaled fortitude in a grueling French Open triumph.—
Nicole Fallert,
USA Today,
10 June 2025
-
No Hollywood producer is scrambling for a script about the mental fortitude of a Chiefs regime that was overhauled after losing the most games in team history.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
2 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pluck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pluck. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share