Wrest — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˈrest/

Meaning & Definition of Wrest

Wrest (verb)

  1. to pull, force, or move by violent wringing or twisting movements
  2. to gain with difficulty by or as if by force, violence, or determined labor

Wrest (noun)

  1. the action of wresting, wrench
  2. a key or wrench used for turning pins in a stringed instrument (such as a piano)

Wrest (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to draw out by force or with effort

    "the boy wrested the book out of his sister's hands"

    similar: corkscrew, extract, prize, pry, pull, root (out), tear (out), uproot, wring, yank
    related: mine, pluck, remove, take (out), withdraw
    near: implant, insert, install, instill, cram, jam, ram, stuff, wedge

  2. to get (as money) by the use of force or threats

    "vowed that the bully had wrested his lunch money from him for the last time"

    similar: exact, extort, wring
    related: bleed, fleece, gouge, milk, skin, squeeze, cheat, racketeer, swindle, coerce, compel, force

  3. to get with great difficulty

    "farmers who were used to wresting a living from the harsh land"

    similar: eke (out), scrape (up or together), scrounge, squeeze, wring
    related: acquire, attain, draw, earn, gain, land, obtain, procure, secure

  4. to move by or as if by a forceful rotation

    "I need a strong arm to wrest the lid off this pickle jar"

    similar: twist, wrench, wring
    related: draw, dredge (up), extract, jerk, lug, pluck, pull, tug, tweak, yank, jimmy, lever, pry, budge, dislocate, displace, disturb, remove, shift, transfer, transpose

  5. to separate or remove by forceful pulling

    "wrested open the stuck door of the cabinet"

    similar: rip, tear, wrench, yank
    related: grab, nab, seize, snap (up), snatch, lop (off), nip, amputate, cut (off), dissever, sever, extract, force, jerk, prize, pry, pull, root (out), uproot
    near: reattach

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Wrest

The most common words with a similar meaning to Wrest:

corkscrew, extract, prize, pry, pull, root (out), tear (out), uproot, wring, yank, exact, extort, eke (out), scrape (up or together), scrounge, squeeze, twist, wrench, rip, tear

Related Words for Wrest

mine, pluck, remove, take (out), withdraw, bleed, fleece, gouge, milk, skin, cheat, racketeer, swindle, coerce, compel, force, acquire, attain, draw, earn, gain, land, obtain, procure, secure, dredge (up), jerk, lug, tug, tweak

Near Antonyms of Wrest

implant, insert, install, instill, cram, jam, ram, stuff, wedge, reattach

Word Forms of Wrest

Inflections: wrested, wresting, wrests

Origin & Etymology of Wrest

Middle English wrasten, wresten, from Old English wrǣstan; akin to Old Norse reista to bend and probably to Old English wrigian to turn wry

First known use: 13th century

Frequently Asked Questions about Wrest

What does "Wrest" mean?

"Wrest" means to pull, force, or move by violent wringing or twisting movements. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to pull, force, or move by violent wringing or twisting movements. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Wrest"?

Other words for "Wrest" include corkscrew, extract, prize, pry, pull, root (out), tear (out) and uproot. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Wrest" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Wrest"?

There are 70 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Wrest". Common alternatives include corkscrew, extract, prize, pry, pull, root (out), tear (out), uproot, wring and yank.

How do you use "Wrest" in a sentence?

Examples of "Wrest" in a sentence: "the boy wrested the book out of his sister's hands"; "vowed that the bully had wrested his lunch money from him for the last time"; "farmers who were used to wresting a living from the harsh land".

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

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

How do you pronounce "Wrest"?

"Wrest" is pronounced /ˈrest/.

What is the origin of the word "Wrest"?

"Wrest" comes from Middle English wrasten, wresten, from Old English wrǣstan; akin to Old Norse reista to bend and probably to Old English wrigian to turn wry. First known use: 13th century.

What is another word for "Wrest" meaning "to draw out by force or with effort"?

When "Wrest" (verb) means to draw out by force or with effort, synonyms include corkscrew, extract, prize, pry, pull and root (out).