tugging
Pulling with effort
Tugging is pulling with short, sharp movements or sustained effort.
A child tugs at a parent's sleeve for attention.
A boat tugs a barge.
The word often implies resistance or difficulty: She kept tugging at the stuck drawer.
Figuratively, conflicting desires tug at someone: Duty and desire were tugging him in opposite directions.
Force toward oneself
- yankingPulling abruptly
- haulingTransporting heavy items
- jerkingAbrupt, spasmodic movement
- heavingMoving up and down
dragging · towing · lugging · wrenching · snatching · plucking · rope · cord
Exerting intense effort
- exertionVigorous physical effort
- strugglingExperiencing serious difficulty
- wrestlingCombat sport requiring holds
- grapplingClose-quarters combat technique
heaving · laboring · toiling · muscle · force · strength · resistance · leverage
Deep emotional attachments
- longingIntense, persistent desire
- yearningIntense prolonged craving
- nostalgiaLonging for the past
- guiltMoral self-reproach
conscience · desire · pull · attraction · compulsion · urge · impulse · sentimentality
pulling
Force toward oneself
heaving · dragging · towing · lugging · wrenching · snatching · plucking · rope · cord · tether
straining
Exerting intense effort
- exertionVigorous physical effort
- strugglingExperiencing serious difficulty
- wrestlingCombat sport requiring holds
grappling · heaving · laboring · toiling · muscle · force · strength · resistance · leverage · tension
heartstrings
Deep emotional attachments
guilt · conscience · desire · pull · attraction · compulsion · urge · impulse · sentimentality · ache
tow
Pull something behind
anchor · mooring · harbor · dock · towline · hawser · pilot · maritime · stern · bow
sleeve
Garment's arm portion
whiskers · beard · hair · teasing · pestering · attention-seeking · child · puppy · kitten · nudging
- fiddlingfiddling, fiddle, fiddler, fiddle tune, fiddle tunes
- action verbsrun, jump, chase, grab, climb
- exertioneffort, straining, strain, heaving, labor
- hair brushingbristles, brush, comb, detangler, knots
- pet behaviortail wagging, purring, kneading, growling, hissing
- signalssignal, signals, signaling, sign, waved
tuggingpushing
Applying force to move
shoving · thrusting · pressing · propelling · nudging
tuggingreleasing
Allowing to escape
letting go · dropping · relinquishing · freeing · loosening