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

Other Word Forms

• wrester noun
• unwrested adjective
• unwresting 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

Co-star Cynthia Erivo promptly wrested the stunned actress away from Mr Wen, who was seen being escorted out of the event by security officers.

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After much of the exchanges were dominated by the Eubanks, Benn managed to wrest back attention towards the end of the event.

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By 2030, U.S. and Chinese superintelligences conspire together to wrest control of Earth from humanity, using biological weapons to wipe out all but a few submarine crews and people hiding in bunkers.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Stretched over three floors of the spiralling modernist building, his images captured the span of Ukraine's struggle for independence: 35 years trying to wrest itself from Russian control.

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In late September, the Dutch government wrested control of Nexperia from its Chinese owner Wingtech Technology, citing the need to preserve “technological knowledge and capabilities” necessary for Europe’s economic security.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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