pull by force; bend forcefully; twist; hurt by twisting; cut off; distort, pervert
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Wrenching Definition from Language, Idioms & Slang Dictionaries & Glossaries
(p. pr. & vb. n.)
of Wrench
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), edited by Noah Porter. Aboutof Wrench
wrenching
adj : causing great physical or mental suffering; "a wrenching pain" [syn: racking]
Adjective
1. causing great physical or mental suffering; "a wrenching pain"
(synonym) racking
(similar) painful
Noun
1. a sharp strain on muscles or ligaments; "the wrench to his knee occurred as he fell"; "he was sidelined with a hamstring pull"
(synonym) twist, pull
(hypernym) injury, hurt, harm, trauma
(hyponym) sprain
(derivation) twist, sprain, turn, wrick, rick
2. a jerky pulling movement
(synonym) twist
(hypernym) movement, motion
3. a hand tool that is used to hold or twist a nut or bolt
(synonym) spanner
(hypernym) hand tool
(hyponym) adjustable wrench, adjustable spanner
(part-meronym) jaw, jaws
(derivation) twist
Verb
1. twist or pull violently or suddenly, especially so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached or from where it originates; "wrench a window off its hinges"; "wrench oneself free from somebody's grip"; "a deep sigh was wrenched from his chest"
(synonym) twist
(hypernym) pull
(derivation) spanner
2. make a sudden twisting motion
(hypernym) writhe, wrestle, wriggle, worm, squirm, twist
(derivation) twist
3. twist and compress, as if in pain or anguish; "Wring one's hand"
(synonym) wring
(hypernym) twist, twine, distort
(verb-group) contort, deform, distort, wring
4. twist suddenly so as to sprain; "wrench one's ankle"; "The wrestler twisted his shoulder"; "the hikers sprained their ankles when they fell"; "I turned my ankle and couldn't walk for several days"
(synonym) twist, sprain, turn, wrick, rick
(hypernym) injure, wound
(derivation) twist, pull
