pluck 1 of 2

noun

Definition of plucknext
1
as in pull
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in courage
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

pluck

2 of 2

verb

ˈplək How to pronounce pluck (audio)
as in to squeeze
to rob by the use of trickery or threats the Internet opened up a whole new medium for con artists to pluck the gullible

Synonyms & Similar Words

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of pluck
Noun
The multi-instrumentalist singer-songwriter, who rocks an early era Maxwell ‘fro, plays drums, plucks bass, and sings about the ups and downs of love and consumerism on his new album, LK99. — Elise Brisco, Rolling Stone, 22 May 2026 Forget pluck, elbow grease and a little old-fashioned hard work. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Verb
Four years later Fontaine plucked another future Hall of Famer, taking outfielder Tony Gwynn in the third round. — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026 His last one was in the fourth quarter by Curry, who read the short pass and plucked it out of the air for the score. — ABC News, 3 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for pluck
Recent Examples of Synonyms for pluck
  1. pull
  2. courage
  3. squeeze
  4. tug
  5. grit
  6. sting
  7. yank
  8. fortitude
Noun
  • Quirky touches include plaid upholstery, fabric door-pull straps and a removable storage basket 3D-printed from bio-plastic and wood.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The lifestyle premium Then there’s the pull that has drawn Americans west for generations.
    — Andrew McGowan, Fortune, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of pull
Noun
  • The future will not be shaped only by the power of our technology or our weapons, but by the quality of our conversations—and the courage of the choices that follow.
    — Halla Tómasdóttir, Time, 16 Oct. 2026
  • But, beyond the wall-to-wall coverage and sensational headlines, is a story about the incredible courage, devotion, and strength that Natalee’s mother, Beth, showed in the face of unimaginable loss.
    — Peter White, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of courage
Verb
  • But in recent years, the shows have become money losers and the network TV business — faced with a decline in viewers that is squeezing profits — are cutting them loose.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
  • However, rising costs for housing, food, fuel and insurance coupled with cooling employment rends and the lowest consumer sentiment in a decade is squeezing discretionary spending.
    — Vicki M. Young, Footwear News, 12 Oct. 2026
Definition of squeeze
Noun
  • Early that morning, an Argentinean naval tug had been bombed by the British, destroying its communications systems.
    — Jordan Salama, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
  • The knitting process is portable and easy, but the structure also means a tug on one loose end can quickly unravel the whole project.
    — Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of tug
Noun
  • And the protesters’ grit, wit, inventiveness, and fearlessness have dented Modi’s authority like nothing else has in the past 12 years.
    — Pratap Bhanu Mehta, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2026
  • Marcus, however, showed a lot of grit and guts for a lad who was not expected to triumph.
    — Lars Brandle, Billboard, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of grit
Verb
  • All of a sudden, Bass was a staggering champion lunging at a revived Raman, who swung and stung and ducked the way only a hungry up-and-comer can.
    — Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Clement famously tried to get the Supreme Court to overturn President Obama's signature health care law, a loss that still stings.
    — Carrie Johnson, NPR, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of sting
Noun
  • Smudge, yank, squash and draw on photos to create one-of-a-kind masterpieces meant to be shared.
    — Jennifer Maas, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The yanks are coming, the yanks are coming!
    — Kirk Bowman, The Conversation, 9 June 2026
Definition of yank
Noun
  • But more importantly — and what comes with age — is having the fortitude not to follow them.
    — Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 19 Sep. 2026
  • That mental fortitude stood out to Green during a minor-league game in which Voit started 0-for-4 with three strikeouts.
    — Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 14 Sep. 2026
Definition of fortitude

Browse Nearby Words

ploys
pluck
plucked
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pluck.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/pluck. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All