wrest

American  

[rest] / rɛst /

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.

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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 British  

/ 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

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noun

1. the act or an instance of wresting

2. archaic a small key used to tune a piano or harp

Related Words

See extract.

Other Word Forms

• unwrested
  adjective
• unwresting
  adjective
• wrester
  noun

Etymology

Origin of wrest

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

Explanation

To wrest is to forcefully grab or take something away. You can wrest away many things, such as remote controls and championships. This word is strong and a little violent. It's not easy to wrest something away. Wresting away is a little like "wrestling" something away — you can't get it without a fight. Objects can be wrested away, but so can non-physical things. In a tough election, you could say the new president wrests away the title of commander-in-chief from the incumbent candidate.

Example Sentences

But she had to fight to wrest the position permanently from the grasp of an inept, problematic man.

From Salon • May 11, 2026

The race for Paris mayor looked uncertain Monday as a right-wing former minister hoping to wrest control of the French capital from the left claimed she had gained key support for a second-round run-off.

From Barron's • Mar. 16, 2026

But if it can wrest more power from Live Nation, that’s a worthy win in the short term.

From Slate • Mar. 10, 2026

The appellate judges said they were guided by a precedent set in the 9th Circuit this summer, when California tried and failed to wrest back control of federalized soldiers in and around Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 20, 2025

This was probably the only thing that could have roused the dying embers of Frodo’s heart and will: an attack, an attempt to wrest his treasure from him by force.

From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien

Related Words

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