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
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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
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Recent Examples of pluck
Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 19 May 2025
In Spanish, my grandmother read tales from Las Mil y Una Noches—in English, The Thousand and One Nights—bringing the world beyond Leigh Street, Scheherazade's magical world of Central Asian pluck, heroism and ingenuity, into the life of my mother and her siblings.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2025
Witnesses also said that protesters were setting fire to the homes of some politicians in Kathmandu, and local media reported that some ministers were plucked to safety by military helicopters.
—Gopal Sharma, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pluck
Noun
But Belvidere is roaring back because of its own pluck.
—Laurent Belsie, Christian Science Monitor, 19 May 2025
In Spanish, my grandmother read tales from Las Mil y Una Noches—in English, The Thousand and One Nights—bringing the world beyond Leigh Street, Scheherazade's magical world of Central Asian pluck, heroism and ingenuity, into the life of my mother and her siblings.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 May 2025
Verb
Cinematographer Jaime Ackroyd certainly captures Scotland’s majesty, but there is no character to the frames, which look like they could be plucked out of a commercial from a tourism bureau.
—Esther Zuckerman, IndieWire, 11 Sep. 2025
Witnesses also said that protesters were setting fire to the homes of some politicians in Kathmandu, and local media reported that some ministers were plucked to safety by military helicopters.
—Gopal Sharma, USA Today, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for pluck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pluck
Noun
-
The two had a minor pull-apart but Adam Pearce screamed it down.—
Alfred Konuwa,
Forbes.com,
16 Sep. 2025
-
From a modern and musical twist on the classic Furby to the sweet Lego Botanicals Happy Plants and a new Melissa & Doug pull-along pup, these toys for kids start at just $7.—
Katrina Cossey,
Parents,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Ironically, the very adaptability and intellectual courage the future demands are often harder to cultivate in today’s college climate.—
Sarah Hernholm,
Forbes.com,
17 Sep. 2025
-
In an atmosphere of repression and fear, these women discover courage, solidarity, and the power of imagination through the simple transformative act of reading together.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
16 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
My sister looked up at me and ever so gently, with barely perceptible pressure, squeezed my hand.—
Gordon G. Chang,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
-
If real estate values turn soft in a region, the decline could squeeze a crucial revenue stream for cities, counties, regional agencies and school districts.—
George Avalos,
Mercury News,
16 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
The quasi-moon is expected to remain in its current near-Earth orbit for about another 60 years before the gravitational tug of the sun pulls it back into a horseshoe orbit.—
Ashley Strickland,
CNN Money,
16 Sep. 2025
-
This pulling motion tugs on artificial bones, creating movements similar to how the human body works.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
For your fights, your moments of glory, your grit.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
For breakfast and lunch, there’s Gulf shrimp in a moat of creamy grits and massive triangles of quiche suspending earthy layers of collard greens.—
The Bon Appétit Staff,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
12 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The lakes froze thick enough to skate across, the air stung sharp in the lungs, and the game every boy seemed to dream about was hockey.—
Zach Sweet,
Kansas City Star,
9 Sep. 2025
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It’s revealed that Sklar was Lori’s inspiration as a child to become an artist, only to crush that spark a dozen or so years later with stinging cruelty.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
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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
-
This is a testament to her mental fortitude, perhaps strongest of the three.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
8 Sep. 2025
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Throughout the writhing and the screaming, Julia’s fortitude wears down a defiant Davina, whose history with Lovat feeds the moment.—
Hunter Ingram,
Variety,
6 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Pluck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pluck. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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