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to yank

to yank

196 4.1
To pull something suddenly and hard
  • verb
  • /jæŋk/
translation icon : tirar de
  • He yanked the door open with all his strength.
  • yank back
  • get yanked

The amount of money they'll yank from stocks could be profound.

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Examples

  • I yanked Bobby into my office for a sit-down.

  • Several hungry beaks break through and grab him, yanking him headfirst into the embankment.

    Fiction book (1990)
  • And you you yank it down.

  • And you you yank it back.

  • Just yank it up there.

  • Yeah, yeah, yank this starter off real quick.

  • Yank once for the warning, twice when it's clear.

  • Before I knew it, he yanks me out of the car.

  • But if this baby doesn't come soon, I'm gonna have to reach in and yank it out myself.

  • Aunt Lucette got her comb out of her purse and began yanking it through her hair.

    Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

to pull
vsto yank
1.0

To move something toward you using force, often to remove it

is specifically a sudden, forceful jerk rather than any pulling
to pull out
vsto yank
523 2.7

To take something out of a place, often with effort

is a sudden, forceful action rather than a general extraction
to snatch
vsto yank
136 3.0

To take something quickly with your hand

is a forceful pull rather than a quick grab
to rip off
vsto yank
80 4.5

To pull something away quickly and roughly

is a sudden forceful pull but not necessarily a ripping action
to pluck
vsto yank
77 3.5

To pull something out quickly with the fingers

is a larger, rougher sudden pull rather than a small dexterous action
to rip out
vsto yank
68 4.4

To pull something out quickly and with force, often to remove it completely

is a single sudden forceful pull focusing on initial force rather than full removal
to tug
vsto yank
56 1.0

To pull something hard, often in a quick way

is a single sudden forceful pull rather than repeated tugs
to pull off
vsto yank
41 2.7

To take something off from where it is attached

is more about a single sharp movement than general removal
to wrench
vsto yank
33 4.2

To twist or pull something hard to remove it

is purely a sudden straight pull without an added twist
to tear off
vsto yank
12 3.0

To pull something off quickly until it rips

is a single sharp pull but may not involve tearing
to pick off
vsto yank
9 4.3

Pull things away one at a time

is a single abrupt pull, not a series of small removals
to tear away
vsto yank
6 4.5

To pull something off quickly with force

is a sudden forceful move but may not imply full detachment
to hoick
vsto yank
  • UK
1 9.4

To pull or lift something suddenly with a lot of force

is similar but focuses on a single sharp pull rather than lifting
to revulse
vsto yank
  • Archaic
9.9

Pull something away suddenly with great force

is similar yet usually describes one abrupt pull rather than multiple actions

Antonyms

138 1.0

A force that moves something away from you

Idioms

1 8.7

Tease someone to make them react

Phrasal Verbs

1 4.6

Pull a door quickly and hard to open it

How Forceful

to wrench
33 4.2
to yank
196 4.1
tug
31 1.1
pull
45 1.0

Surface Forms

yank infinitive
yanked past
yanked past participle
yanking present participle
yanks third person singular

Etymology

The word yank probably comes from an old local English word meaning 'a quick, sharp pull' or from the short sound people make when they pull something suddenly. A helpful way to remember it is to imagine shouting 'yank!' as you give a sudden pull, which is why yank means a fast, forceful pull today.