Results

Definition of wrench : 1. A sprain; an injury by twisting, as in a joint.
2. A violent twist, or a pull with twisting.
3. An instrument, often a simple bar or lever with jaws or an angular orifice either at the end or between the ends, for exerting a twisting strain, as in turning bolts, nuts, screw taps, etc.; a screw key. Many wrenches have adjustable jaws for grasping nuts, etc., of different sizes.
4. Means; contrivance.
5. The system made up of a force and a couple of forces in a plane perpendicular to that force. Any number of forces acting at any points upon a rigid body may be compounded so as to be equivalent to a wrench.
6. To pull with a twist; to wrest, twist, or force by violence.
7. To strain; to sprain; hence, to distort; to pervert.
8. Trick; deceit; fraud; stratagem.

Synonyms:

plough, turn of events, gimmick, wrick, wrestle, change state, draw, change by reversal, convolute, twitch, strain, curve, Allen wrench, sadness, call on, bellows, braid, ferment, cut, work, injure, device, plait, grow, harm, adjustable wrench, wind, extort, plow, reverse, wringing, jerk, twisting, bind, regret, worm, drag, blowtorch, sprain, contort, haul, intertwine, bradawl, whirl, release, depression, winding, wrenching, twine, pull, remorse, screw, deform, machine, eddy, twirl, writhe, squeeze, move, tug, box end wrench, entangle, spin, disappointment, break, squirm, tress, wriggle, sophisticate, sour, rick, yank, crook, wresting, blowlamp, turn, move around, pulling, distort, desolation, sorrow, tangle, kink, twist around, puff, turn over, flex, push, bend, twist, tweak, snap, clout, become, disable, pluck, construction, bit, wring, lurch, pervert, applicator

headache, cramp, pain, distress, injury, smarting, stitch, back-ache, burn, torment, throb, earache, agony, spasm, stab, irritate, ache, painfulness, pang, malaise, gripe, irritation, crick, inflammation, grief, chafing, sore, suffering, torture, chafe, rack, suffer, misery, inflame, afflict, wound, anguish, sting, agonize, throe, affliction, bruise, hurt, migraine, bite, smart, infliction, discomfort

grindstone, posthole auger, band saw, shovel, mallet, hedge trimmer, file, lathe, scythe, spoke shave, hatchet, chain saw, crosscut saw, cold chisel, spanner, planer, tire iron, level, hacksaw, snips, vise, square, calipers, jointer, auger, bow saw, shears, welder, sickle, claw hammer, emery wheel, scissors, chisel, tool, miter box, wedge, handsaw, crowbar, ball-peen hammer, sledgehammer, back saw, scroll saw, ripsaw, spade, saw, lug wrench, plane, coping saw, tin snips, trowel, grapnel, punch, jackknife, screwdriver, hammer, circular saw, edger, wrecking bar, axe, pickax, drill, machete, awl, pick, bench drill, buzz saw, arc welder, jigsaw, stapler, drill press, table saw, hoe, keyhole saw, pliers, pipe wrench, knife, monkey wrench, radial arm saw, gouge

Usage examples:

• I have fled from the Church, and it has followed me into the wilderness, and is about to wrench from my grasp the one who is dearer to me than life. - "If Any Man Sin", H. A. Cody.
• A wrench which fits over the head of the bolt and passes endways upon it. - "Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II", Joshua Rose.
• Jim caught him with both hands and held him, the dog growling, snarling, trying to wrench himself free to bite his hands. - "The Sweep Winner", Nat Gould.