wrench 1 of 2

1
as in twist
a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something with a sharp wrench of the hammer I pulled the nail from the board

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2
as in tug
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force with one final hard wrench I was able to pull the cork from the bottle

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wrench

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to pull
to move by or as if by a forceful rotation with one last sharp yank, he wrenched the lid off the bottle of ketchup

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2
as in to damage
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure wrenched her shoulder by all of that heavy lifting

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3

Examples 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 wrench
Noun
Forecasting the Field The mainstream popularity of PartyNextDoor could throw a wrench in this, as could the appeal of stars similar in caliber, though their albums didn’t perform as well. Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 15 Oct. 2024 But, no matter how good your intentions are, life always manages to throw a wrench into your cleaning routine. Kelsey Mulvey, Southern Living, 7 Oct. 2024
Verb
Food items — from sausages to oranges — have wrenched global control from pathetic earthlings, many of whom are now dead. Randy Myers, The Mercury News, 10 July 2024 In recent decades, neuroscientists have wrenched this millennia-old question from the grip of philosophers, recognizing that the connection between neuronal activity and conscious experience is incontestable. Lindsey Laughlin, Ars Technica, 10 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for wrench 
Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrench
Noun
  • Finally, with a twist of the ambient magnetic field, tiny tornadoes swirl into existence, pirouetting in the darkness.
    Quanta Magazine, Quanta Magazine, 6 Nov. 2024
  • Sweet Potato Wedges Sweet potato wedges are a salty and sweet twist on traditional French fries.
    Jillian Kubala, Health, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
  • In this polarizing election climate, watch for the four biases that Harris will most likely face as the first woman of color to run for president in the U.S.: the tightrope, maternal wall, prove it again and tug of war biases.
    Julie Kratz, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
  • Kneeling before me, a genderless cutie in a leather dog mask begs for another round of rope tug.
    Bae Leche, refinery29.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • Brands began to pull together resources to support refugees.
    Stephan Rabimov, Forbes, 13 Feb. 2023
  • The 13-minute performance will likely call for a healthy dose of vibrant, colored lighting to pull it all together.
    Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, 10 Feb. 2023
Verb
  • If the court doesn’t grant them that injunction, NASCAR is ready to yank those Charters and let the team’s race as open entries.
    Greg Engle, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024
  • This noted, what Mother is brilliant at is showing us the rug being yanked from under her feet, again and again, in terse, breathless prose—sometimes girlishly purple, at others brusque with the idioms of the era.
    Will Self, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024
Noun
  • Or averred that Biden was sharp as a tack and that anyone who suggested otherwise was a jerk.
    Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
  • The extra that was shot by accident earlier this season was one such obnoxious jerk.
    Erik Kain, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024
Verb
  • In back, a pipe is leaking, damaged when the wall supporting a heater was torn out.
    Suzanne Seggerman, Curbed, 14 Nov. 2024
  • At the 2013 World Championships, Vonn tore the ACL and MCL in her right knee and sustained a fracture in her right leg after a crash during the super-G. Later that year, she re-injured her ACL while training, and ultimately did not participate in the 2014 Winter Olympics.
    Rohan Nadkarni, NBC News, 14 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • In response, Jason grabbed the individual's phone and threw it to the ground, a video that has been shared countless times on social media.
    Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
  • If not, grab your handheld vacuum to remove any dirt, crumbs and dead skin from the cushion.
    Cody Godwin, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
Verb
  • While a players goes in at his own risk, that does not allow a fan to attempt to rip a glove off a hand, or a ball out of a mitt, or an arm off of a body.
    Dan Freedman, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
  • Koerner tried to hang on, but was thrown hard against the boat, ripping his rotator cuff in several places.
    Lane Sainty, The Arizona Republic, 3 Nov. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Wrench.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrench. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

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