as in pull
the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force
had to give the shoe a good yank to get it off
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to jerk
to move or cause to move with a sharp quick motion
she stupidly yanked the wheel while I was driving
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in to pull
to draw out by force or with effort
yanked out a tooth with a pair of pliers
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to grab
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
grab the other one, and let's see if we can't yank these two grocery carriages apart
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of yank
Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 4 May 2023
Happy to help, Marsh popped over, entered the combination and gave it a good yank — success.
—Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 4 May 2023
Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
And Moody’s Investors Service could yank this last one away, and quickly, if Trump pushes for fresh tax cuts.
—William Pesek, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for yank 
Noun
Her teacher promptly pulled her back into line with a yank whose mildness astonished me.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 4 May 2023
Happy to help, Marsh popped over, entered the combination and gave it a good yank — success.
—Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 4 May 2023
Verb
Ideally, Eaton Canyon would be allowed to recover naturally, outside of yanking up invasive plants that challenge native plants for nutrients and space.
—Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2025
And Moody’s Investors Service could yank this last one away, and quickly, if Trump pushes for fresh tax cuts.
—William Pesek, Forbes, 15 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for yank
Recent Examples of Synonyms for yank
Noun
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Metals are a great way to introduce a subtle pop of shine into your kitchen, whether through practical accessories such as trays or more integral elements like cabinet pulls.—
Maria Sabella,
Better Homes & Gardens,
4 Feb. 2025
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This total ubiquity of access to the attentional pull of our phones is genuinely new.—
Stuart Miller,
Orange County Register,
3 Feb. 2025
Verb
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Musk then put his hand over his heart before jerking his arm out, straight and stiff with his palm down in a manner that resembled a Nazi or Roman military salute.—
Jack Dunn,
Variety,
20 Jan. 2025
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Instead of jerking the wheel or hitting the brakes, try to apply the brakes gently and steer smoothly.—
John Yoo and John Shu,
Newsweek,
23 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Then, almost missing the cue, Belushi stepped forward and grabbed the mic stand.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
17 Feb. 2025
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The second woman, the grandmother of the 5-year-old girl and mother of the 22-year-old victim, tried to intervene when Phillips grabbed and pushed her, authorities said.—
Lauren Liebhaber,
Miami Herald,
16 Feb. 2025
Noun
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For all the language about the transformative nature of the narcotic farms, they were hamstrung by federal policies reflecting the nation’s tug of war between treatment and punishment.—
TIME,
TIME,
10 Feb. 2025
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At other times, the vessels are pulled along by small tugs, by way of a long line.—
Matt Dutile,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Feb. 2025
Verb
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When a fish swims by, the snake twitches its neck, a movement so rapid that it can only be captured on high-speed film.—
Ryley Graham,
Smithsonian Magazine,
29 Jan. 2025
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In other words, the version of the Democratic Party that got killed in 2024 is still twitching.—
Philip Elliott,
TIME,
21 Jan. 2025
Verb
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The next year, White plucked Jennifer Coolidge and Jon Gries from the season 1 cast and transported them to Sicily.—
Ryan Coleman,
EW.com,
31 Jan. 2025
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Pickens was a healthy scratch down the stretch, losing playing time to Jonathan Ford, who was plucked off the Packers’ practice squad.—
Kevin Fishbain,
The Athletic,
25 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Republicans have ripped the idea, saying that a credit of $50 would not have much impact on a family of four that is trying to pay the bills.—
Christopher Keating,
Hartford Courant,
18 Feb. 2025
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In early January, several fires ripped through parts of Los Angeles, burning tens of thousands of acres and destroying more than 9,000 buildings, including homes and businesses.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
17 Feb. 2025
Verb
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After striking the barriers, the truck backed up, then lurched forward, striking the metal barriers a second time.—
Alexandra Koch,
Fox News,
26 Jan. 2025
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The dollar continued its long-running rise, as the expectation of higher interest rates in the United States maintained its allure for investors around the world, even as yields in other bond markets lurched higher.—
Joe Rennison,
New York Times,
10 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near yank
Cite this Entry
“Yank.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/yank. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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