tow 1 of 2

verb

ˈtō How to pronounce tow (audio)
Definition of townext
as in to pull
to cause to follow by applying steady force on towed the car into the shop for repair

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

tow

2 of 2

noun

as in tug

Related Words

Dissimilar 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 tow
Verb
So the company began towing the Flight 13 Ship to shore — an endeavor that initially seemed doomed to failure. — Mike Wall, Space.com, 27 Aug. 2026 The filing says a witness reported seeing a gray GMC Denali towing a box trailer containing people, including children. — Christina Coulter, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
Noun
Drivers who believe their car was wrongfully towed have 14 days to request a tow hearing, where a judge decides whether the tow and any fees were justified. — Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 9 Aug. 2026 The car drew suspicion at the tow yard after a worker noticed a strong smell of decay and the presence of flies around the car. — Claudia Rosenbaum, Vulture, 28 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for tow
Recent Examples of Synonyms for tow
  1. pull
  2. tug
  3. haul
  4. drag
  5. wrench
  6. draw
  7. jerk
Verb
  • One of the resources pulled was the Pedestrian and Bicycle Crash Analysis Tool, which was designed to capture information on cars, bicycles, and pedestrians, according to the outlet.
    — Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 3 Sep. 2026
  • Moreno had previously put the club up for sale in August 2022 before pulling the team off the market five months later.
    — Fabian Ardaya, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of pull
Noun
  • To keep your dog safe, only tug from side to side as lifting the rope toy can damage your dog’s spine.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026
  • If your toddler stubbornly digs their heels in, don’t allow yourself to be drawn into a potty training tug of war.
    — BestReviews, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of tug
Verb
  • More than 200 walruses were hauled out on the beach, grunting and groaning, wriggling and jostling for position.
    — Sarah Kingdom, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Beckham lunged and tried to haul it in, but the ball bobbled incomplete.
    — Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of haul
Noun
  • Jamie Meun, better known as Chicago drag performer Aunty Chan, officiated the ceremony.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026
  • There’s the proscriptive Christian culture; there’s a drag and gay dance-club underground engineered to sidestep it.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of drag
Noun
  • When referee Rick Knox confiscated the belt, Christian loaded up his wrist brace with a wrench.
    — Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
  • And then Casey, my middle child, picked up the wrench and brought it in to me.
    — Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of wrench
Noun
  • The decision to present Nico to the St James’ crowd ahead of the West Bromwich Albion Carabao Cup tie was inspired, perpetuating the positivity brought about by the training-ground announcement and opening-day Liverpool draw.
    — George Caulkin, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Balloon flights are one of the region’s biggest draws, and so the most reputable operators can fill up weeks ahead, particularly from spring to autumn.
    — Scott Campbell, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Sep. 2026
Definition of draw
Noun
  • The latter accidentally does happen, which leads to power struggles between the bigoted jerk and our trio of heroines.
    — Brian Truitt, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Duffy, for his part, came across as a real jerk at times, but surprisingly charming at others, with a half-nerd, half-jock mien—sweepy hair, big glasses, a megawatt smile—that put me in mind of a Wisconsin Sam Seaborn.
    — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of jerk

Browse Nearby Words

touts
tow
toward
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tow.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/tow. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on tow

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tow

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