wrench

[rench]

verb (used with object)

1. to twist suddenly and forcibly; pull, jerk, or force by a violent twist.

   He wrenched the prisoner's wrist.

2. to overstrain or injure (the ankle, knee, etc.) by a sudden, violent twist.

   When she fell, she wrenched her ankle.

3. to affect distressingly as if by a wrench.

4. to wrest, as from the right use or meaning.

   to wrench the facts out of context.

   Synonyms: warp, twist, distort

verb (used without object)

1. to twist, turn, or move suddenly aside.

   He wrenched away.

2. to give a wrench or twist at something.

noun

1. a wrenching movement; a sudden, violent twist.

   With a quick wrench, she freed herself.

2. a painful, straining twist, as of the ankle or wrist.

3. a sharp, distressing strain, as to the feelings.

4. a twisting or distortion, as of meaning.

5. a tool for gripping and turning or twisting the head of a bolt, a nut, a pipe, or the like, commonly consisting of a bar of metal with fixed or adjustable jaws.

wrench

/ rɛntʃ /

verb

1. to give (something) a sudden or violent twist or pull esp so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached

   to wrench a door off its hinges

2. (tr) to twist suddenly so as to sprain (a limb)

   to wrench one's ankle

3. (tr) to give pain to

4. (tr) to twist from the original meaning or purpose

5. (intr) to make a sudden twisting motion

noun

1. a forceful twist or pull

2. an injury to a limb, caused by twisting

3. sudden pain caused esp by parting

4. a parting that is difficult or painful to make

5. a distorting of the original meaning or purpose

6. a spanner, esp one with adjustable jaws See also torque wrench

Other Word Forms

• wrencher noun
• wrenchingly adverb
• outwrench verb (used with object)
• unwrenched adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of wrench¹

before 1050; Middle English wrenchen (v.), Old English wrencan to twist, turn; cognate with German renken

Word History and Origins

Origin of wrench¹

Old English wrencan; related to Old High German renken, Lithuanian rangyti to twist. See _wrinkle ¹

Idioms and Phrases

see throw a monkey wrench.

Example Sentences

A head teacher who was jailed for attacking a fellow teacher with a metal wrench has been released four months after being sentenced, the Prison Service has confirmed.

From BBC

Simpson told journalists that many would not be surprised to see him defect, and that leaving the Conservatives was "an enormous wrench".

From BBC

And it's a wrench and a weight to actually think of not doing this thing any more, especially if you love it, and you're good at it.

From BBC

“We expect that Kyiv and European capitals will perceive that constructively, and that they won’t throw a wrench in the works.”

From Los Angeles Times

Putin also urged Ukrainians and Europeans to "not throw a wrench" into the peace process.

From BBC

Related Words

• bend 
• dislocate 
• distort 
• rip 
• sprain 
• tweak 
• wrest 
• wring 
• yank