WordLens

wring

1 of 2verb
/rɪng/
Forms:wrings,wringing,wrung,wrung
1

to extract or remove liquid from something by twisting, squeezing, or compressing it

transitive
  • He wrung the dishcloth to remove the soapy water after washing the dishes.
  • She carefully wrung the mop head to remove the dirty water into the bucket.
  • He wrung the wet garment to remove as much water as possible before hanging it to dry.
  • She wrung the sponge to remove the cleaning solution before wiping the countertop.
  • The farmer wrung the cloth to drain excess water from the harvested vegetables.
2

to cause extreme emotional or physical pain or distress to someone

transitive
  • The news of the accident wrung her heart, causing her immense grief.
  • The breakup wrung his soul, leaving him in a state of deep sadness.
  • The loss of her beloved pet wrung her with a profound sense of emptiness.
  • The sight of the devastation caused by the natural disaster wrung the entire community with despair.
  • The harsh criticism from her peers wrung her self-esteem, leaving her feeling worthless.
Synonyms:
3

to press and twist something forcibly

transitive
  • The strong winds threatened to wring the branches of the fragile sapling.
  • The wrestler attempted to wring his opponent's arm to gain an advantage.
  • In frustration, he couldn't help but wring the paper in his hands.
  • The child's constant pulling threatened to wring the stuffed toy out of shape.
4

to obtain or extract something, often with great effort, difficulty, or pressure

transitive
  • She managed to wring the truth out of the reluctant witness during the intense cross-examination.
  • He wrung a confession out of the suspect through a lengthy and persistent interrogation.
  • The investigative journalist wrung valuable information out of her confidential sources.
  • The lawyer managed to wring a substantial settlement from the reluctant insurance company.
  • The negotiator employed persuasive tactics to wring concessions from the stubborn opponent.