wrench

[rench]

verb (used with object)

1. to twist suddenly and forcibly; pull, jerk, or force by a violent twist.

   He wrenched the prisoner's wrist.

2. to overstrain or injure (the ankle, knee, etc.) by a sudden, violent twist.

   When she fell, she wrenched her ankle.

3. to affect distressingly as if by a wrench.

4. to wrest, as from the right use or meaning.

   to wrench the facts out of context.

   Synonyms: warp, twist, distort

verb (used without object)

1. to twist, turn, or move suddenly aside.

   He wrenched away.

2. to give a wrench or twist at something.

noun

1. a wrenching movement; a sudden, violent twist.

   With a quick wrench, she freed herself.

2. a painful, straining twist, as of the ankle or wrist.

3. a sharp, distressing strain, as to the feelings.

4. a twisting or distortion, as of meaning.

5. a tool for gripping and turning or twisting the head of a bolt, a nut, a pipe, or the like, commonly consisting of a bar of metal with fixed or adjustable jaws.

wrench

/ rɛntʃ /

verb

1. to give (something) a sudden or violent twist or pull esp so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached

   to wrench a door off its hinges

2. (tr) to twist suddenly so as to sprain (a limb)

   to wrench one's ankle

3. (tr) to give pain to

4. (tr) to twist from the original meaning or purpose

5. (intr) to make a sudden twisting motion

noun

1. a forceful twist or pull

2. an injury to a limb, caused by twisting

3. sudden pain caused esp by parting

4. a parting that is difficult or painful to make

5. a distorting of the original meaning or purpose

6. a spanner, esp one with adjustable jaws See also torque wrench

Other Word Forms

• wrencher noun
• wrenchingly adverb
• outwrench verb (used with object)
• unwrenched adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wrench¹

before 1050; Middle English wrenchen (v.), Old English wrencan to twist, turn; cognate with German renken

Word History and Origins

Origin of wrench¹

Old English wrencan; related to Old High German renken, Lithuanian rangyti to twist. See _wrinkle ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see throw a monkey wrench.

Example Sentences

It'll be an unimaginable wrench when we do have to say that last goodbye to mum, but I'm so glad I know and understand her wishes.

Read more on BBC

That wrenching experience prompted Wilson to become an activist full time.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He tends to favor spare instrumentation, drawing the ear to his husky voice and often wrenching lyrics.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

But given the change in landscape for women's rugby in England over the past decade, she may never have to put down the rugby ball and pick up the wrench again.

Read more on BBC

Gustavo Dudamel isn’t famous for his prowess as a jazz musician, but when forces beyond his control threw a wrench into his plans for concerts this week at the Hollywood Bowl, the L.A.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bend 
• dislocate 
• distort 
• rip 
• sprain 
• tweak 
• wrest 
• wring 
• yank