wrench

[ rench ]

/ rɛntʃ /

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See synonyms for: wrench / wrenched / wrenching on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to twist suddenly and forcibly; pull, jerk, or force by a violent twist: He wrenched the prisoner's wrist.

to overstrain or injure (the ankle, knee, etc.) by a sudden, violent twist: When she fell, she wrenched her ankle.

to affect distressingly as if by a wrench.

to wrest, as from the right use or meaning: to wrench the facts out of context.

verb (used without object)

to twist, turn, or move suddenly aside: He wrenched away.

to give a wrench or twist at something.

noun

a wrenching movement; a sudden, violent twist: With a quick wrench, she freed herself.

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

a sharp, distressing strain, as to the feelings.

a twisting or distortion, as of meaning.

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.

OTHER WORDS FOR wrench

4 distort, twist, warp.

See synonyms for wrench on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of wrench

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

OTHER WORDS FROM wrench

wrencher, nounwrench·ing·ly, adverboutwrench, verb (used with object)un·wrenched, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH wrench

ranch, wrench

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use wrench in a sentence

Some applicants, however, say the pandemic has thrown a wrench in a time-intensive and financially draining process.
The pandemic’s lasting effects on young medical workers|Terry Nguyen|February 1, 2021|Vox
In North County, both teacher resistance and staff shortages have thrown major wrenches in efforts to reopen schools from Vista to Encinitas to Escondido.
Morning Report: A Charter Walks Back Reopening Plans|Voice of San Diego|January 12, 2021|Voice of San Diego
The global pandemic threw an unexpected wrench into the business plans of media companies large and small, and for the unlucky, caused them to shut their doors — or shut down their websites — completely.
In memoriam: A round-up of the media companies we lost in 2020|Kayleigh Barber|December 30, 2020|Digiday
One especially frantic Hasid had wrenched his wife to death while fixing his station wagon in front of all nine of his children.
A Jewish Ex-Con Recalls Keeping Kosher with the Faithful in Prison|Daniel Genis|May 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The odor wrenched the stomach and made one hesitant to breathe.
‘The Land of the Permanent Wave’ Is Bud Shrake’s Classic Take on ‘60s Texas|Edwin Shrake|February 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On the day the game came out, I played for a few hours, then wrenched myself away to play tennis with a friend.
Diablo 3 Is Finally Here and One Player Ponders Its Ability to Take Over His Life|Jesse Singal|May 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST
In a moment Harry had wrenched the gun from her, and with a blow bent the barrel of the rifle around the door frame.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
Mr. Parsons wrenched away with a will, and soon the great bar was bent almost to a right angle.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume II (of 3)|Charles James Wills
Without another word he wrenched himself from her, opened the front door, and ran out into the night.
Marriage la mode|Mrs. Humphry Ward
Squatting on his haunches he wrenched a large tobacco-wad from a black plug, then leaned over towards his neighbour and grunted.
Menotah|Ernest G. Henham
Valmond caught the giant's wrist with both hands, and with a mighty effort wrenched himself aside.
When Valmond Came to Pontiac, Complete|Gilbert Parker

British Dictionary definitions for wrench

wrench

/ (rɛntʃ) /

verb

to give (something) a sudden or violent twist or pull esp so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attachedto wrench a door off its hinges

(tr) to twist suddenly so as to sprain (a limb)to wrench one's ankle

(tr) to give pain to

(tr) to twist from the original meaning or purpose

(intr) to make a sudden twisting motion

noun

a forceful twist or pull

an injury to a limb, caused by twisting

sudden pain caused esp by parting

a parting that is difficult or painful to make

a distorting of the original meaning or purpose

a spanner, esp one with adjustable jawsSee also torque wrench

Word Origin for wrench

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with wrench

wrench

see throw a monkey wrench.

wrench

OTHER WORDS FOR wrench

Origin of wrench

OTHER WORDS FROM wrench

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH wrench

Words related to wrench

How to use wrench in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for wrench

Word Origin for wrench

Other Idioms and Phrases with wrench