as in twisting
a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something
no amount of wresting could loosen the rusted bolt
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
1
as in pulling
to draw out by force or with effort
the boy wrested the book out of his sister's hands
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in extorting
to get (as money) by the use of force or threats
vowed that the bully had wrested his lunch money from him for the last time
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in earning
to get with great difficulty
farmers who were used to wresting a living from the harsh land
Synonyms & Similar Words
4
as in yanking
to move by or as if by a forceful rotation
I need a strong arm to wrest the lid off this pickle jar
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in grabbing
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
wrested open the stuck door of the cabinet
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of wresting
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
15 Aug. 2025
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
But skeptics of Elliott’s plans say there is little precedent in the modern era of municipalities, or even states, wresting control from private for-profit utilities.
—
John Moritz,
Hartford Courant,
20 June 2026
One can picture a similar relief for Veeze, wresting control from the internet, letting his unfazed facade crack even if for just a moment.
—
Matthew Ritchie,
Pitchfork,
2 June 2026
Vegas withstood an early barrage and then completely took over, defeating the top-seeded Avalanche 4-2 and wresting home-ice advantage away.
—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
During a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Monday, April 27, Quinn was seen wresting the ball out of the Guardians fan’s hands.
—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Companies bracing for higher energy costs are already wresting with tariffs, inflation and bigger labor costs.
—
Christopher Rugaber,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Trotsky hurled items from the desk at Mercader before wresting the ice pick from his grip.
—
Josh Ireland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Now the president is again pitching the idea that wresting control of Greenland away from Denmark could solve the problem.
—
Josh Funk,
Fortune,
11 Jan. 2026
Noun
In pitching his services, Prince discussed wresting control of gangs to allow major highways to reopen.
—
Jacqueline Charles,
Miami Herald,
15 Aug. 2025
Verb
In his first bout at 170 pounds, Makhachev cruised to a decision win over Jack Della Maddalena at UFC 322 in November 2025, easily wresting the UFC welterweight crown from Della Maddalena.
—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2026
But skeptics of Elliott’s plans say there is little precedent in the modern era of municipalities, or even states, wresting control from private for-profit utilities.
—
John Moritz,
Hartford Courant,
20 June 2026
One can picture a similar relief for Veeze, wresting control from the internet, letting his unfazed facade crack even if for just a moment.
—
Matthew Ritchie,
Pitchfork,
2 June 2026
Vegas withstood an early barrage and then completely took over, defeating the top-seeded Avalanche 4-2 and wresting home-ice advantage away.
—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
21 May 2026
During a game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Progressive Field in Cleveland on Monday, April 27, Quinn was seen wresting the ball out of the Guardians fan’s hands.
—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
PEOPLE,
30 Apr. 2026
Companies bracing for higher energy costs are already wresting with tariffs, inflation and bigger labor costs.
—
Christopher Rugaber,
Los Angeles Times,
11 Mar. 2026
Trotsky hurled items from the desk at Mercader before wresting the ice pick from his grip.
—
Josh Ireland,
Harpers Magazine,
24 Feb. 2026
Now the president is again pitching the idea that wresting control of Greenland away from Denmark could solve the problem.
—
Josh Funk,
Fortune,
11 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wresting
Noun
-
The current federal and state-level policy push shaping how companies deploy AI systems is also experiencing a tug of war.
-
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.
Verb
-
Workers were dispatched throughout La Guaira and parts of Caracas, where families and volunteers have spent the last few days pulling survivors and bodies from the wreckage despite a lack of heavy equipment and limited guidance from authorities.
-
Rescuers have fanned out across La Guaira, where the worst destruction occurred, and parts of Caracas, where families and volunteers have spent days pulling survivors and victims from the rubble.
Verb
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In April of that year, Michael Spilotro and a third brother, Victor, were charged with extorting money from two businesses associated with prostitution and using violence to enforce their demands, UPI reported at the time.
-
The report describes Indigenous patrols in Venezuela allegedly working alongside armed groups controlling mining areas and extorting workers along river routes.
Verb
-
Cape Verde then closed the group stage by earning draws against Uruguay on June 21 and Saudi Arabia on June 26.
-
Some of the world’s most successful companies are built on it, earning their profits on services layered atop an open core.
Verb
-
Now, with the federal and state government yanking back plenty of that funding and directly barring the city from enacting some of its more aggressive climate plans, Higgins is left with a narrow road to tread toward progress.
-
The virtual oar-yanking celebration in a baseball atmosphere was one of those weird juxtapositions that seem to get fostered whenever a World Cup fanbase descends upon a host city.
Verb
-
Americans are grabbing their passports and fleeing the country in hopes of leaving the nation’s problems behind.
-
Swanson argues those behind-the-scenes improvements have done more to modernize logistics than many of the industry’s headline-grabbing automation projects.
Noun
-
With granny shorts, these soft loafers create a relaxed put still put-together look that’s ideal for those who love a classic vibe with a trendy twist.
-
And in a novel twist, there will be a ball drop in New York City’s Times Square at midnight to usher in the July Fourth holiday with much the same revelry that is typically reserved for New Year’s Eve.
Verb
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These evergreen or deciduous shrubs protect your garden oasis from prying eyes and create a sense of solitude.
-
The two have already had a few chats away from prying eyes and shared a few kisses.
Cite this Entry
“Wresting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wresting. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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