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
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Recent Examples of pluck
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
29 Jan. 2026
Trump is fond of Paxton’s pluck and Hunt’s ambition.
—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
25 June 2026
However, items saved by survivors or plucked from the water by rescuers can be sold and often fetch big sums.
—
Patrick Whittle,
Los Angeles Times,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pluck
Noun
In the car world, Ratcliffe’s pluck has earned him some admiration, though sales have not necessarily followed, even if the Grenadier stacks up well in terms of price and power.
—
Erik Shilling,
Robb Report,
29 Jan. 2026
Trump is fond of Paxton’s pluck and Hunt’s ambition.
—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
Editor Picks One way to weed through the pages and pages of deals is going straight to the Vogue editor picks section, to see what the team has hand-plucked across all categories.
—
Kristina Rutkowski,
Vogue,
25 June 2026
However, items saved by survivors or plucked from the water by rescuers can be sold and often fetch big sums.
—
Patrick Whittle,
Los Angeles Times,
23 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for pluck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pluck
Noun
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Even with the best investors, the gravitational pull is real.
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In 2020, Fort Worth restriped Hemphill Street from Hammond Street to Vickery Boulevard, from five lanes to three, and adding new bike lanes, bus pull-outs, and street parking.
Noun
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Their courage quickly wavers in the face of the location’s eerie atmosphere and the deafening sound of cicadas.
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That courage is greater than talent, and people remember who had it.
Verb
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As artificial intelligence transforms the job market and rising living costs squeeze family budgets, the University of California system is making the case that its degrees remain valuable investments.
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Breweries may not have the budget or staff to create art and with rising costs squeezing small businesses, many breweries started to feature obvious generative AI art prominently as a way to talk about events or create content.
Noun
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The current federal and state-level policy push shaping how companies deploy AI systems is also experiencing a tug of war.
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The tug of war is also hair-raising because China's approach puts the world's most powerful AI in the hands of bad actors, who could – and likely will – use the models to wreak havoc.
Noun
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The fans got their wish after a roller coaster of emotions as Team USA, down a man for the final 36 minutes after a Folarin Balogun red card, showed grit, poise and never-say-die attitude to hang on for a 2-0 win to advance to the Round of 16.
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Surviving a World Cup knockout-stage brawl takes a special kind of grit.
Verb
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Significant stinging insect infestations like wasps and carpenter bees may also require a specialized plan that isn’t included in your general pest control service.
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Democrats are still stung by Rogan’s nearly three-hour Trump interview in the final weeks of the 2024 campaign.
Noun
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The yanks are coming, the yanks are coming!
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Connie Lansdown, the hysterectomy patient, watches the storm yank a man from a reclining chair and drag him down the hall.
Noun
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What sets him apart is his character, mental fortitude and sheer physical resilience.
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There may have been flaws in the analysis provided to the president before his decision to strike, or if there weren’t, then no one in the intelligence community had the fortitude or gravitas to help the president understand the realities of the situation.
Cite this Entry
“Pluck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pluck. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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