as in agonizing
intensely or unbearably painful
forced to make the emotionally wrenching decision to place her mother in a nursing home
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
as in twisting
a forceful rotating or pulling motion for the purpose of dislodging something
after a lot of wrenching and tugging, the plumber managed to pull the stubborn pipe free
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in pulling
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 damaging
to injure by overuse, misuse, or pressure
wrenched her shoulder by all of that heavy lifting
Synonyms & Similar Words
3
as in tearing
to separate or remove by forceful pulling
wrenched the post out of the ground
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of wrenching
EW.com, 3 Oct. 2024
Portraying John Norman Howard in the heart-wrenching 1976 romantic drama opposite Streisand’s Esther Hoffman led him to a Golden Globe win for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy the following year.
—Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 29 Sep. 2024
Continuing along the current path is a sure recipe for economic disaster, and the government will almost certainly have to restructure its debt and begin wrenching reforms.
—Michael Shifter, Foreign Affairs, 10 Mar. 2016
Verb
In a gut-wrenching scene that drew criticism after the film's premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, The Apprentice depicts the future president raping his wife.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for wrenching
Adjective
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She would later be diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, and over the next long, agonizing decade, this loving, kind person became angry and suspicious, often lashing out at family members.Jessie Van Amburg, SELF, 25 Nov. 2024
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That led him to the agonizing conclusion that season-ending surgery was the best route for a young career with plenty of future upside.Anthony Slater, The Athletic, 21 Nov. 2024
Verb
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As for the ocean capacity limitations assisting in the growth of air bookings, cargo-carrying vessels throughout the late summer cramped up amid a flurry of factors including the ongoing avoidance of the Red Sea, ensuing port congestion and a pulling forward of the peak shipping season.Glenn Taylor, Sourcing Journal, 4 Oct. 2024
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When the night’s at its blackest, this is for those who are holding the light, guiding the lost and pulling us through.Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 4 Oct. 2024
Verb
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She was limited to buying boys’ basketball shoes as a high schooler in the 2010s before tearing her ACL.Jacob Feldman, Sportico.com, 2 Oct. 2024
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Ten months after tearing his right knee’s anterior cruciate ligament, Hufanga made his season debut last Sunday, recording seven tackles and playing 53-of-58 defensive snaps in a 27-24 loss to the Los Angeles Rams.Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 30 Sep. 2024
Adjective
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The two halves of this character combine in a captivating performance for which Goggins was happy to endure a torturous prosthetic.Ryan Fleming, Deadline, 13 June 2024
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According to the political scientist Pierre Englebert, the Congolese government and people lose as much as $4 billion in revenue every year due to state agents’ manipulation of mining contracts and payments, torturous budget practices, and outright theft.Stephen R. Weissman, Foreign Affairs, 8 June 2015
Noun
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Across its eight tracks, Knox bares all about the intimate lifecycle of her own seven-year relationship through spellbinding vocals that tug at the heartstrings and polished, R&B-leaning production.Heran Mamo, Billboard, 4 Dec. 2024
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The dog can sniff around and tug at its leash, but the dog walker is the one setting the pace and direction.Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 26 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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None of the series is easy to watch, but the fourth episode — in which the 36-year-old comedian takes a multi-day road trip with his estranged father, Joe — is both excruciating and intensely moving.EW Staff, EW.com, 5 Dec. 2024
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After suffering four excruciating defeats to begin its first season in the Atlantic Coast Conference, Cal could have been swallowed up by deja vu when Wake Forest fought back to trail just 39-36 midway through the fourth quarter on Friday night.Jeff Faraudo, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Its 9-inch shaft height works well with everything from leggings to wide-leg jeans, and its dainty bows add a trendy twist to the popular Bailey silhouette.Averi Baudler, People.com, 1 Dec. 2024
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Both Chabert and Polaha were intrigued by this slight twist to the typical romantic structure.Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 1 Dec. 2024
Verb
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Wildfires are typically regarded as a summer event, ripping through forests and homes in the hotter months.Kristin Shaw, Popular Science, 14 Nov. 2024
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Find out more tips, plus recommendations for tights that are less prone to ripping.Elizabeth Both, NBC News, 11 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near wrenching
Cite this Entry
“Wrenching.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/wrenching. Accessed 12 Dec. 2024.
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