Pluck — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈplək/

Meaning & Definition of Pluck

Pluck (verb)

  1. to pull or pick off or out
  2. to remove something (such as feathers or hairs) from by or as if by plucking
  3. rob, fleece

Pluck (noun)

  1. an act or instance of plucking or pulling
  2. the heart, liver, lungs, and trachea of a slaughtered animal especially as an item of food
  3. courageous readiness to fight or continue against odds, dogged resolution

Pluck (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the act or an instance of applying force on something so that it moves in the direction of the force

    "a quick pluck pulled the hair right out"

    similar: draw, haul, jerk, pull, tug, wrench, yank
    related: drag, tow, hitch, twitch, grab, snatch
    opposite: push
    near: heave, shove, thrust

  2. the strength of mind that enables a person to endure pain or hardship

    "it takes pluck to survive a crippling car accident and still go on to become successful"

    similar: backbone, constancy, fiber, fortitude, grit, grittiness, guts, intestinal fortitude, spunk
    related: determination, purposefulness, resoluteness, resolution, bravery, courage, courageousness, daring, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, gallantry, greatheartedness, intrepidity, intrepidness, nerve, stoutness, valor, endurance, forbearance, stamina, sufferance, tolerance, heart, mettle, spirit, audacity, boldness, brass, cheek, chutzpah, effrontery, gall, hardihood, nerviness, temerity
    opposite: spinelessness
    near: indecisiveness, irresoluteness, irresolution, vacillation, cowardice, cowardliness, cravenness, dastardliness, faintheartedness, pusillanimity, timidity, timorousness

Pluck (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to rob by the use of trickery or threats

    "the Internet opened up a whole new medium for con artists to pluck the gullible"

    similar: beat, bilk, bleed, cheat, chisel, chouse, con, cozen, defraud, diddle, do, do in, euchre, fiddle, fleece, flimflam, gaff, hose (slang), hustle, mulct, nobble (British slang), ream, rip off, rook, screw, shake down, short, shortchange, skin, skunk, squeeze, stick, stiff, sting, sucker, swindle, thimblerig, victimize, sell a bill of goods to, take for a ride, take to the cleaners
    related: extort, wrench, wrest, wring, clip, gouge, nick, overcharge, soak, exploit, milk, deceive, dupe, fool, gull, trick, rope (in), betray, bitch, double-cross, bamboozle, fast-talk

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Pluck

The most common words with a similar meaning to Pluck:

Slang: hose
British slang: nobble
draw, haul, jerk, pull, tug, wrench, yank, backbone, constancy, fiber, fortitude, grit, grittiness, guts, intestinal fortitude, spunk, beat, bilk, bleed, cheat, chisel, chouse, con, cozen, defraud, diddle, do, do in, euchre, fiddle, fleece, flimflam, gaff, hustle, mulct, ream, rip off, rook, screw, shake down

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Pluck

Words with the opposite meaning of Pluck:

push, spinelessness

Related Words for Pluck

drag, tow, hitch, twitch, grab, snatch, determination, purposefulness, resoluteness, resolution, bravery, courage, courageousness, daring, dauntlessness, doughtiness, fearlessness, gallantry, greatheartedness, intrepidity, intrepidness, nerve, stoutness, valor, endurance, forbearance, stamina, sufferance, tolerance, heart

Near Antonyms of Pluck

heave, shove, thrust, indecisiveness, irresoluteness, irresolution, vacillation, cowardice, cowardliness, cravenness, dastardliness, faintheartedness, pusillanimity, timidity, timorousness

Word Forms of Pluck

Inflections: plucked, plucking, plucks

Derived words: plucker (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Pluck

Middle English, from Old English pluccian; akin to Middle High German pflücken to pluck

First known use: before 12th centuryt

Words & Phrases Containing Pluck

pluck at, pluck up (the) courage

Frequently Asked Questions about Pluck

What does "Pluck" mean?

"Pluck" means to pull or pick off or out. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to pull or pick off or out. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Pluck"?

Other words for "Pluck" include draw, haul, jerk, pull, tug, wrench, yank and backbone. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Pluck" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Pluck"?

There are 120 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Pluck". Common alternatives include draw, haul, jerk, pull, tug, wrench, yank, backbone, constancy and fiber.

What is the opposite of "Pluck"?

Antonyms of "Pluck" include push and spinelessness. Near antonyms include heave, shove, thrust and indecisiveness.

How do you use "Pluck" in a sentence?

Examples of "Pluck" in a sentence: "a quick pluck pulled the hair right out"; "it takes pluck to survive a crippling car accident and still go on to become successful"; "the Internet opened up a whole new medium for con artists to pluck the gullible".

Is "Pluck" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Pluck" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Pluck"?

"Pluck" is pronounced /ˈplək/.

What is the origin of the word "Pluck"?

"Pluck" comes from Middle English, from Old English pluccian; akin to Middle High German pflücken to pluck. First known use: before 12th centuryt.