wrest

[ rest ]

verb (used with object)

1. to twist or turn; pull, jerk, or force by a violent twist.

   Synonyms: wring

2. to take away by force:

   to wrest a knife from a child.

3. to get by effort:

   to wrest a living from the soil.

   Synonyms: wring

4. to twist or turn from the proper course, application, use, meaning, or the like; wrench.

noun

1. a wresting; twist or wrench.
2. a key or small wrench for tuning stringed musical instruments, as the harp or piano, by turning the pins to which the strings are fastened.

wrest

/ rɛst /

verb

1. to take or force away by violent pulling or twisting
2. to seize forcibly by violent or unlawful means
3. to obtain by laborious effort
4. to distort in meaning, purpose, etc

noun

1. the act or an instance of wresting
2. archaic.
   a small key used to tune a piano or harp

Derived Forms

• ˈwrester, noun

Other Words From

• wrester noun
• un·wrested adjective
• un·wresting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wrest¹

First recorded before 1000; (verb) Middle English wresten, Old English wrǣstan “to turn, twist,” from unattested Old Norse wreista ( Icelandic reista ); akin to wrist; (noun) Middle English, derivative of the verb and first recorded in 1350-1400

Word History and Origins

Origin of wrest¹

Old English wrǣstan; related to Old Norse reista. See writhe

Synonym Study

See extract.

Example Sentences

Will the Republican finally wrest control of the Senate from the Democrats?

From The Daily Beast

She could never seem to wrest free any back royalties, but she always seemed to owe back taxes.

From The Daily Beast

The military made an aggressive push to wrest control over drone targeting decisions away from the president.

From The Daily Beast

Robert Shrum on the four tricks the GOP might use to wrest back control.

From The Daily Beast

Jade asked Strong if she was ever at a loss for ideas and if so, how she might wrest herself from a slump.

From The Daily Beast

To fix on any one stage in such an evolution, detach it, affirm it, is to wrest a true scripture to its destruction.

From Project Gutenberg

It had become evident that a formidable rebellion threatened to wrest the Siberian provinces from the Russian crown.

From Project Gutenberg

"It's mine," coaxed Marjorie, trying to wrest it from Nannie.

From Project Gutenberg

It is not every man who can wrest vast wealth from the turmoils of a “Black Friday.”

From Project Gutenberg

She was going to wrest the dish forcibly from my hands, beat me with her fists, and let me feel all her ill-will.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• exact
• extort
• extract
• seize
• usurp
• wrench
• wring