Synonyms for tug
tʌgtug

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. tug

   One object draws another when it moves it toward itself or in the direction of its own motion by the exertion of adequate force, whether slight or powerful. To attract is to exert a force that tends to draw, tho it may produce no actual motion; all objects are attracted toward the earth, tho they may be sustained from falling. To drag is to draw against strong resistance; as, to drag a sled over bare ground, or a carriage up a steep hill. To pull is to exert a drawing force, whether adequate or inadequate; as, the fish pulls on the line; a dentist pulls a tooth. To tug is to draw, or try to draw, a resisting object with a continuous straining motion; as, to tug at the oar. To haul is to draw somewhat slowly a heavy object; as, to haul a seine; to haul logs. One vessel tows another. In the figurative sense, attract is more nearly akin to incline, draw to induce. We are attracted by one's appearance, drawn to his side. Compare ALLURE; ARRAY; INFLUENCE.

   See synonyms for DRIVE.

   Synonyms:
   allure, attract, drag, draw, entice, haul, incline, induce, lead, lure, pull, tow

   Antonyms:
   alienate, estrange, rebuff, reject, repel, repulse

   Preposition:
   To draw water from or out of the well; draw the boat through the water, to the shore; draw air into the lungs; draw with cords of love; the wagon is drawn by horses, along the road, across the field, over the stones, through the woods, to the barn.

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. tugverb

   Synonyms:
   pull, drag, haul, draw

Princeton's WordNetRate these synonyms:5.0 / 1 vote

1. tug, jerknoun

   a sudden abrupt pull

   Synonyms:
   saccade, jerky, jerk, dork, jerking, jerked meat, jolt, towboat, tugboat, tower

2. tugboat, tug, towboat, towerverb

   a powerful small boat designed to pull or push larger ships

   Synonyms:
   towboat, tower, jerk, column, pillar, tugboat

3. tugverb

   pull hard

   "The prisoner tugged at the chains"; "This movie tugs at the heart strings"

   Synonyms:
   labor, lug, tote, push, labour, drive

4. tug, labor, labour, push, driveverb

   strive and make an effort to reach a goal

   "She tugged for years to make a decent living"; "We have to push a little to make the deadline!"; "She is driving away at her doctoral thesis"

   Synonyms:
   fight, force back, crowd, lug, get, dig, ram, drudge, moil, press, agitate, advertize, take, repel, aim, drive, promote, travail, crusade, labour, motor, advertise, grind, bear on, repulse, labor, force, ride, push, campaign, tote, push back, toil, beat back

5. tugverb

   tow (a vessel) with a tug

   "The tugboat tugged the freighter into the harbor"

   Synonyms:
   labor, lug, tote, push, labour, drive

6. lug, tote, tugverb

   carry with difficulty

   "You'll have to lug this suitcase"

   Synonyms:
   labour, block, lug, push, stuff, labor, tote, drive, choke up

7. tugverb

   move by pulling hard

   "The horse finally tugged the cart out of the mud"

   Synonyms:
   labor, lug, tote, push, labour, drive

8. tugverb

   pull or strain hard at

   "Each oar was tugged by several men"

   Synonyms:
   labor, lug, tote, push, labour, drive

9. tugverb

   struggle in opposition

   "She tugged and wrestled with her conflicts"

   Synonyms:
   labor, lug, tote, push, labour, drive

Matched Categories

1. • Move
   • Pull
   • Struggle
   • Tow
   • Transport

Editors ContributionRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. yank

   as to quickly tug, jerk or pull at something attached by a rope or other line held in hand.

   they all grabbed the rope in unison and yanked it quickly & even harder, so as to dislodge it from it's place of mooring.

   Submitted by acronimous on December 8, 2019  

2. hauling

   exert force on (someone or something) so as to cause movement towards oneself

   she hauled the laden basket up the slope

   Submitted by rinat on September 10, 2019  

Dictionary of English SynonymesRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. tugverb

   Synonyms:
   pull (with great effort), draw, haul, drag

2. tugverb

   Synonyms:
   pull hard

3. tugverb

   Synonyms:
   labor, struggle, strive

4. tugnoun

   Synonyms:
   hard pull, great effort

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. tugnoun

   Synonyms:
   trace, pull, effort

PPDB, the paraphrase databaseRate these paraphrases:0.0 / 0 votes

1. List of paraphrases for "tug":

   tugboat, tow, tugs

Suggested Resources

1. TUG

   What does TUG stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the TUG acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

How to pronounce tug?

How to say tug in sign language?

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

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Words popularity by usage frequency

How to use tug in a sentence?

1. Craig Luttman:

   It was like a tug of war, all were going in different directions.

2. Rick Meckler:

   It's a back and forth tug of war between investors in this trading range.

3. Suffolk County police:

   This tug was in the back of the line when it sank, the other tugs continued without seeing them. They heard the distress call and headed back to assist in the search.

4. Pete Buttigieg:

   The conversation in Washington has always been about the next fight, the next hill, the next bill -- so much so that I think some folks seeing the tug of war over' Build Back Better' kind of lost track of the fact that the infrastructure law passed, it is important for them to know that that this bridge over the rail yard in Chattanooga that we just announced is coming to you because the President's vision and ability to work with Congress, both sides of the aisle, to get funding for this.

5. Pete Holiday:

   Capitalism needs to function like a game of tug-of-war. Two opposing sides need to continually struggle for dominance, but at no time can either side be permitted to walk away with the rope.