as in fulfilling
to carry through (as a process) to completion
the rebel forces pulled off a surprisingly successful offensive against the better equipped government troops
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 pulling off
The Miami quarterback was minutes removed from throwing the game-sealing interception that ended UM’s chances of pulling off a comeback to win their sixth national title.
—
Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2026
So who and what is Palm Tree Crew, the mysterious entity that’s pulling off the events Billy McFarland could only dream of?
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 21 Jan. 2026
From an early age, her big sister was teaching her all about pulling off a matching moment.
—Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Mastering proportions, for one, is key to pulling off a loose-fitting look without getting lost in it.
—Sri Rain Stewart, InStyle, 13 Jan. 2026
Instead of pulling off a strong road win to lift the team’s spirits, the Rockets saw another close game slip away on the road as the questions about this group’s ability to execute during pivotal moments are only getting louder by the day.
—William Guillory, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, Morgan's hopes of pulling off her surprise for Uncle Tommy get sacked.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
Louisville should climb into the rankings after pulling off the upset.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
The best curvy denim skirts The right fit is key to pulling off a denim skirt of any variety, but finding the right one requires time and research.
—Avery Matera, Glamour, 10 Oct. 2025
Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 21 Jan. 2026
So who and what is Palm Tree Crew, the mysterious entity that’s pulling off the events Billy McFarland could only dream of?
—Elise Taylor, Vanity Fair, 21 Jan. 2026
From an early age, her big sister was teaching her all about pulling off a matching moment.
—Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 15 Jan. 2026
Mastering proportions, for one, is key to pulling off a loose-fitting look without getting lost in it.
—Sri Rain Stewart, InStyle, 13 Jan. 2026
Instead of pulling off a strong road win to lift the team’s spirits, the Rockets saw another close game slip away on the road as the questions about this group’s ability to execute during pivotal moments are only getting louder by the day.
—William Guillory, New York Times, 10 Jan. 2026
Meanwhile, Morgan's hopes of pulling off her surprise for Uncle Tommy get sacked.
—Emlyn Travis, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Oct. 2025
Louisville should climb into the rankings after pulling off the upset.
—Jordan Sigler, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
The best curvy denim skirts The right fit is key to pulling off a denim skirt of any variety, but finding the right one requires time and research.
—Avery Matera, Glamour, 10 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pulling off
Verb
-
Murphy said the denials keep Congress from fulfilling its constitutional and statutory responsibility to conduct oversight of executive branch facilities.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Love feels playful, cinematic and emotionally fulfilling.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
But when equity markets aren’t performing well, collections take a major hit.—
Lanhee J. Chen,
Mercury News,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Shukurova did not follow standard surgical procedures, such as taking the victim's medical history or performing a basic physical exam, per the district attorney's press release.—
Catherine Santino,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Approximately 80% of that figure comes from consulting services, signifying that enterprises are compensating IBM to create operational AI systems, rather than merely executing pilot programs.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Agents with the Federal Bureau of Information are executing a search at a warehouse that serves as Fulton County's election hub.—
Dan Raby,
CBS News,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
For many workers, achieving balance has become increasingly important.—
Preston Fore,
Fortune,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Ultimately, a general strike is meant to disrupt business as usual, and Oakland showed that achieving such a thing is possible even in a post-Taft-Hartley world.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Malinin holds the honor as the only skater ever to land a quad axel in competition, first accomplishing the feat in 2022.—
Marcus Thompson II,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
-
But experts warn that accomplishing anything near a return to full capacity oil production in Venezuela will likely take years.—
Steve Kopack,
NBC news,
5 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
As Operation Metro Surge got into full swing earlier this month, more than 3,000 federal immigration agents flooded into Minnesota, carrying out sweeping detentions and facing off with protesters in tense confrontations.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Wednesday's ruling came amid a two-month-long crackdown by federal immigration authorities in Minnesota, with around 3,000 federal agents carrying out roughly 3,400 arrests.—
Chloe Rosen,
CBS News,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The producers and the author were doing kind of book events and the lines were like several times around the block.—
Ben Smith,
semafor.com,
31 Jan. 2026
-
On a crowded concourse in the middle of a Saturday morning two months before the start of the season, fans are chugging beers, scarfing Dodger dogs, and even doing a line dance.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
31 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Also, the cold weather is forecast to get much worse from Sunday, with temperatures dropping even further and making the time frame for a pause in attacks hard to understand.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Jan. 2026
-
But in elite-level sport, there is also a danger in dreading the consequences of making a mistake.—
Oliver Kay,
New York Times,
30 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Pulling off.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pulling%20off. Accessed 1 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
