Merriam-Webster's Dictionary and Thesaurus - Merriam-Webster [1575]
1wrench verb 1 : to move with a violent twist
2 : to pull, strain, or tighten with violent twisting or force
3 : to injure or disable by a violent twisting or straining
4 : to snatch forcibly : WREST
Synonyms
[2] twist, wrest, wring; also draw, dredge (up), extract, jerk, lug, pluck, pull, tug, tweak, yank; budge, dislocate, displace, disturb, remove; shift, transfer, transpose
[3] pull, rack, strain, stretch—more at STRAIN
[4] rip, tear, wrest—more at TEAR
2wrench noun 1 : a forcible twisting; also : an injury (as to one's ankle) by twisting
2 : a tool for holding, twisting, or turning (as nuts or bolts)
1wrest verb 1 : to pull or move by a forcible twisting movement
2 : to gain with difficulty by or as if by coercion, force, or violence <~ed the book from her hands> <~ control of the government from the dictator>
Synonyms
[1] extract, prize, pry, pull, root, tear, uproot—more at EXTRACT
[1, 2] rip, tear, wrench—more at TEAR
[2] exact, extort, wring—more at EXTORT
2wrest noun : a forcible twist : WRENCH
1wrestle verb wres·tled; wres·tling 1 : to grapple with and try to throw down an opponent
2 : to compete against in wrestling
3 : to struggle for control (as of something difficult) <~ with a problem>
— wres·tler noun
Synonyms
[1, 2] grapple, scuffle, tussle; also battle, clash (with), combat, contend, fight, war (against); duel, bash, batter, beat, buffet, hit, punch, slug, strike; box, spar; brawl, skirmish
2wrestle noun : the action or an instance of wrestling : STRUGGLE
wres·tling noun : the sport in which two opponents wrestle each other
wretch noun [ORIGIN: ME wrecche, fr. OE wrecca outcast, exile]
1 : a miserable unhappy person
2 : a base, despicable, or vile person
Synonyms
beast, devil, evildoer, fiend, heavy, knave, no-good, rapscallion, rascal, reprobate, rogue, scalawag, scamp, varlet, villain—more at VILLAIN
wretch·ed adjective 1 : deeply afflicted, dejected, or distressed : extremely sad and depressed
2 : characterized by or tending to produce discomfort, distress, or misery <~ living conditions>
3 : having a mean or contemptible nature or appearance 4 : poor in quality or ability : INFERIOR <~ workmanship> — wretch·ed·ness noun Synonyms [1] dejected, depressed, despondent, disconsolate, heartsick, miserable, mournful, sad, sorrowful, sorry, unhappy, woebegone, woeful—more at SAD [3] contemptible, despicable, lousy, nasty, pitiful, scabby, scurvy, sorry—more at CONTEMPTIBLE [4] atrocious, awful, execrable, inferior, lousy, punk, rotten, terrible; also bad, deficient, off, poor, substandard, unsatisfactory, wanting; contemptible, miserable, shameful; defective, faulty; mediocre, reprehensible, second-rate; bum, useless, valueless, worthless; inadequate, insufficient, lacking; abominable, odious, vile Antonyms great, marvelous, wonderful wretch·ed·ly adverb : in a wretched state or manner Synonyms agonizingly, bitterly, grievously, hard, hardly, sadly, sorrowfully, unhappily, woefully—more at HARD wrig·gle verb wrig·gled; wrig·gling 1 : to twist or move to and fro like a worm 2 : to extricate oneself as if by wriggling <~ out of difficulty> — wriggle noun wrig·gler noun 1 : one that wriggles 2 : WIGGLER 1 wring verb wrung ; wring·ing 1 : to squeeze or twist esp. so as to make dry or to extract moisture or liquid <~ wet clothes> 2 : to get by or as if by twisting or pressing <~ the truth out of him> 3 : to twist so as to strain or sprain <~ his neck> 4 : to twist together as a sign of anguish 5 : to affect painfully as if by wringing : TORMENT Synonyms twist, wrench, wrest—more at WRENCH wring·er noun : one that wrings; especially : a device for squeezing out liquid or moisture 1wrinkle noun 1 : a crease or small fold on a smooth surface (as in the skin or in cloth) 2 : a clever or new method, trick,