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

The new strain has also thrown a wrench in things.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I’ve learned a lot about what I might get,” she said, “but Mother Nature always has her monkey wrench in hand.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But Rachel is no shrinking violet, holding her own against lowlifes and schemers while navigating the movie’s unexpected turns, shocking violence and wrenching tension.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

I don’t bother to throw any shoes on; I just grab my father’s old letterman jacket and wrench the back door open.

Read more on Literature

“No, no, no!” she raged, even as she wrenched the princess’s ring off her finger and all but threw it at Penelope.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

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