Synonyms for tug

Synonyms for (noun) tug

Synonyms: tug, jerk

Definition: a sudden abrupt pull

Similar words: pull, pulling

Definition: the act of pulling; applying force to move something toward or with you

Usage: the pull up the hill had him breathing harder; his strenuous pulling strained his back


Synonyms: tug, tugboat, towboat, tower

Definition: a powerful small boat designed to pull or push larger ships

Similar words: boat

Definition: a small vessel for travel on water


Synonyms for (verb) tug

Synonyms: tug

Definition: struggle in opposition

Usage: She tugged and wrestled with her conflicts

Similar words: fight, contend, struggle

Definition: be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

Usage: the tribesmen fought each other; Siblings are always fighting; Militant groups are contending for control of the country


Synonyms: tug

Definition: pull hard

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

Similar words: draw, draw in, pull, pull in, attract

Definition: direct toward itself or oneself by means of some psychological power or physical attributes

Usage: Her good looks attract the stares of many men; The ad pulled in many potential customers; This pianist pulls huge crowds; The store owner was happy that the ad drew in many new customers


Synonyms: tug

Definition: pull or strain hard at

Usage: Each oar was tugged by several men

Similar words: pull, force, draw

Definition: cause to move by pulling

Usage: draw a wagon; pull a sled


Synonyms: tug

Definition: move by pulling hard

Usage: The horse finally tugged the cart out of the mud

Similar words: displace, move

Definition: cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense

Usage: Move those boxes into the corner, please; I'm moving my money to another bank; The director moved more responsibilities onto his new assistant


Synonyms: tote, tug, lug

Definition: carry with difficulty

Usage: You'll have to lug this suitcase

Similar words: transport, carry

Definition: move while supporting, either in a vehicle or in one's hands or on one's body

Usage: You must carry your camping gear; carry the suitcases to the car; This train is carrying nuclear waste; These pipes carry waste water into the river


Synonyms: tug

Definition: tow (a vessel) with a tug

Usage: The tugboat tugged the freighter into the harbor

Similar words: tow

Definition: drag behind

Usage: Horses used to tow barges along the canal


Synonyms: labor, labour, push, tug, drive

Definition: strive and make an effort to reach a goal

Usage: 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

Similar words: fight, struggle

Definition: make a strenuous or labored effort

Usage: She struggled for years to survive without welfare; He fought for breath


Visual thesaurus for tug