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Definitions

yank

[yangk] / jæŋk /
VERB
pull hard and fast
Synonyms
Antonyms
STRONGEST
STRONG
WEAK


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

In what could be viewed as a rough start to its initial public offering rollout, Claude chatbot maker Anthropic reportedly sent details of its plans to bankers before having to yank them back.

From MarketWatch ● Nov. 10, 2026

"As Ozzy would say, 'when you want to remember me, just yank up the music really loud, as loud as you can get it, and just head bang'."

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

Many of them compel me to yank my hair out, bang my head on the table, or do both simultaneously — if that’s possible.

From Salon ● May 17, 2026

“It’s like when you’re driving and you miss a turn and you yank the wheel at the last minute,” Tomasi said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 9, 2026

I hurry myself into the kitchen, socks sliding on the tiles, and yank open the fridge to grab the milk.

From "King and the Dragonflies" by Kacen Callender

More formally known as judicial dissolution, the corporate death penalty basically happens when the government is so pissed off by the corruption or damage a corporation causes that it yanks away their charter.

From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2026

Unfazed by the crashing waves, 72-year-old Wu Feng-chiao yanks fistfuls of brownish-purple seaweed she will process into jelly, one of the last women in Taiwan keeping the marine harvest tradition alive.

From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026

Fantastic as it is, “Working Girl’s” core flaw is that Tess can’t snag her seat at the conference table until she yanks Katharine out of it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026

What a setback for anyone who saw a childhood ruined by Bucky Dent, or yanks the plug when the jukebox cranks up Billy Joel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 8, 2026

The fat policeman drags Dutchy over to Mrs. Scatcherd, and Licorice Breath, following his lead, yanks me roughly by the arm.

From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline

The 65-year-old said he was around 15 when he was initially "yanked from behind" by Colin Turner beside a school noticeboard when he was running late for class.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

A staffer hoisted a poster board showing purported texts alongside images of Smith, Willis and Wade and a photo of State Farm Arena, then yanked it back down with remarkable speed.

From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2026

Concerns that old IT tools will become obsolete, stressing software borrowers, are part of the reason individual investors have yanked money from BDCs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 3, 2026

Greenberg yanked his bat back, looking like a young Ken Griffey Jr. He struck the ball hard, but sent a one-hopper straight toward a third baseman no older than 40.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2026

Lady Constance searched and yanked vigorously on a cord, which turned out to be the tieback for the drapes.

From "The Hidden Gallery" by Maryrose Wood

He left the oral arguments over birthright citizenship early, as if he were Charlie Brown and Chief Justice John Roberts were Lucy yanking the football away from him at the last second.

From Salon ● Apr. 10, 2026

Investors are yanking money out of the opaque funds, lifting withdrawals to record highs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 27, 2026

At first it may seem like random grabbing and yanking, but look closer.

From Slate ● Jan. 25, 2026

Kim, handed a rare start with Dayot Upamecano out sick, was sent off in the 63rd minute, picking up a second yellow for yanking Raul Florucz's arm as the winger went on the attack.

From Barron's ● Jan. 21, 2026

Frantic, I start yanking her letters out of the box, checking the dates, scanning each page for potential hints.

From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day


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